Iron Cross Blister Beetle
I posted a photo of this colorful beetle here but didn’t know what it was. Then wouldn’t you know it, fellow bloggers helped me with an identification. Kathie of Kathiesbirds alerted Doug from Gossamer Tapestry and he identified this Iron Cross Blister Beetle. So I Googled it.
“Normally these beetles emerge in large numbers in mid to late spring and move together in bands crawling or running across the ground. [I only saw one.] They feed on succulent leaves and flower petals. The larva stage is subterranean and likely is parasitic in nests of ground-nesting bees.
“Iron Cross Beetle's conspicuous coloration is related to the fact that they carry cantharidin toxins that can interfere with the vertebrate nervous system - i.e. it is an aposemtic [coloration] warning. In case you were wondering, you should not eat these insects.”
16 comments:
He's pretty....even if he weren't toxic, the last thing I'd want to do would be to pop him in my mouth. Argh.
Oh man! I'm already half way through a batch that I just pan fried... lol
no wonder it's getting hard to type...
Guess I'll go to the hardwhare store for some sushi to top it off! :)
We also have blister beetles here in Europe but I am not sure if the markings are the same. I have just read the following -Spanish Fly is ground-up blister beetle, indigenous to Europe. !!!! Diane
I hope I never get quite that hungry. Good to look at, but to eat? Not!
Just stopped by to say Hi. No beetles for me
Gaelyn: Neat coloration on the beetle, I swear I will not it one. LOL
As cool and colorful as this guy looks I would have NEVER tried to eat one! ICK and LOL! Thanks, Gaelyn!
Darn...now I will have to order take-out for dinner
Quite a colorful critter - I will heed your advise - no beetles for dinner (of the Cross Blister type...)
Uggh! The thought of eating any beetle does not appeal to me at all. If I am starving, I will remember to leave colourful ones alone.
Beautiful beetle Gaelyn but I guess he is not going into my stew pot. :)
lovin' the beetle but won't be eatin' him anytime soon. hope you had a great weekend.
thank goodness for bloggers! we've got pictures of all kinds of things from africa that we'll be posting and we're hoping that people can identify things for us!
They're pretty, but not anyone I'd want to mess with.
Blister beetles in hay can kill a horse. Probably not the same species that get into a hayfield, but the toxin must be the same.
I definitely won't be serving these on my table. Isn't ti cool how nature lets us know not to eat these beetles? :)
Thanks for telling me Gaeyln..I was just about to munch down on one! :)
Very cool looking beetle.
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