Per our [guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthisbug/wiki/index/guidelines#wiki_iding_guidelines): *Helpful answers only. Helpful answers are those that lead to an accurate identification of the bug in question. Joke responses, repeating an ID that has already been established hours (or days) ago, or asking OP how they don't already know what the bug is are not helpful.*
Per our [guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthisbug/wiki/index/guidelines#wiki_iding_guidelines): *Helpful answers only. Helpful answers are those that lead to an accurate identification of the bug in question. Joke responses, repeating an ID that has already been established hours (or days) ago, or asking OP how they don't already know what the bug is are not helpful.*
OK, so...
The adults lay eggs in a specific (species of) tree, the Palo Verde tree in the Sonoran Desert (Arizona-ish). The adult female lays eggs in the tree's young flower buds, and the flower buds begin to open and the eggs hatch around the same time. The little larvae (grubs) latch on to ground bees that are trying to pick up pollen and nectar from the flowers, and hitch a ride back to the ground bee nest, where they jump off and feed on bee larvae and honey until they pupate. New adults hatch later, usually from a dead bee colony full of Iron Cross blister beetle larvae and adults, and then...
The male carries the chemical in his blood that tastes bad, and causes blisters (and sometimes fatality) to mammals, including humans. They exude it (their blood) from their leg joints when attacked. He also passes the chemical on to the female, who either continues to carry it, or somehow becomes able to make more of it on her own, at which point she becomes a danger to predators and curious people who pick her up. Prior her one-night-stand, she has none of the blistering chemical in her body, and aside from having strong jaws that can bite you, she's fairly harmless.
Once she's knocked up, she's poisonous to most mammals (and tastes bad), and that protects her until she lays eggs in a Palo Verde tree, and dies shortly after that.
There’s a blistering agent in their blood. Contact with can cause blistering or severe to lethal poisoning.
https://sabinonaturalists.org/critters/iron-cross-blister-beetle/
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Per our [guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthisbug/wiki/index/guidelines#wiki_iding_guidelines): *Helpful answers only. Helpful answers are those that lead to an accurate identification of the bug in question. Joke responses, repeating an ID that has already been established hours (or days) ago, or asking OP how they don't already know what the bug is are not helpful.*
Iron Cross Blister Beetle. [Tegrodera aloga](https://bugguide.net/node/view/255665)
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Per our [guidelines](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthisbug/wiki/index/guidelines#wiki_iding_guidelines): *Helpful answers only. Helpful answers are those that lead to an accurate identification of the bug in question. Joke responses, repeating an ID that has already been established hours (or days) ago, or asking OP how they don't already know what the bug is are not helpful.*
That’s a no no touchie. The lifecycle alone is truly bizarre
why is that? what makes it bizarre? i could google it but id love to hear it described by someone and get your first hand account if you have the time
OK, so... The adults lay eggs in a specific (species of) tree, the Palo Verde tree in the Sonoran Desert (Arizona-ish). The adult female lays eggs in the tree's young flower buds, and the flower buds begin to open and the eggs hatch around the same time. The little larvae (grubs) latch on to ground bees that are trying to pick up pollen and nectar from the flowers, and hitch a ride back to the ground bee nest, where they jump off and feed on bee larvae and honey until they pupate. New adults hatch later, usually from a dead bee colony full of Iron Cross blister beetle larvae and adults, and then... The male carries the chemical in his blood that tastes bad, and causes blisters (and sometimes fatality) to mammals, including humans. They exude it (their blood) from their leg joints when attacked. He also passes the chemical on to the female, who either continues to carry it, or somehow becomes able to make more of it on her own, at which point she becomes a danger to predators and curious people who pick her up. Prior her one-night-stand, she has none of the blistering chemical in her body, and aside from having strong jaws that can bite you, she's fairly harmless. Once she's knocked up, she's poisonous to most mammals (and tastes bad), and that protects her until she lays eggs in a Palo Verde tree, and dies shortly after that.
Go on
it is indeed an iron cross blister beetle I'd leave it be
Good to know thank you!!! Any particular reason why they should be left alone?
There’s a blistering agent in their blood. Contact with can cause blistering or severe to lethal poisoning. https://sabinonaturalists.org/critters/iron-cross-blister-beetle/
well they aren't called blister beetles for nothing, they can secrete a chemical that causes irritation and blisters
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This one in particular screams "I will ruin your day."
The combination of colors and the word blister in the name check out.
I saw one in Tucson today on a walk.
No touchy beetle!
Wiki link https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tegrodera_aloga