Saltbush-chaparral
Guides
Cysteodemus
Desert Spider Beetles, inflated beetle, black bladder-bodied meloid
Cysteodemus is a genus of desert spider beetles in the family Meloidae, containing at least two described species: C. armatus (inflated beetle) and C. wislizeni (black bladder-bodied meloid). The genus is characterized by a highly inflated, bladder-like body form that gives these beetles their common names. Species are found in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. Sexual behavior in Cysteodemus represents an intermediate condition between the two major subfamilies of blister beetles, featuring simple courtship, prolonged mating, and high female receptivity.
Pyrota concinna
Pyrota concinna is a blister beetle in the family Meloidae, distributed across Central America and North America. The species has been observed visiting flowers of Isocoma pluriflora (southern goldenbush) in saltbush chaparral habitats in southeastern New Mexico. As a member of the tribe Pyrotini, it exhibits the typical blister beetle defensive chemistry and soft-bodied adult form characteristic of the family.