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Meloe impressus
Isn't this romantic? I spotted this couple as the female (larger one seen above) was dragging the male around as they were mating. Their reproductive parts were attached, so she dragged him along wherever she wanted to go.
I based the species level ID on the fact that the head and pronotum were not deeply punctate. Also, the blue color and the time of year further confirm the ID.
Habitat: Spotted in a meadow next to a mixed forest.
''Meloe impressus'' is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in North America.
Similar species: Beetles
By Christine Young
All rights reserved
Uploaded Oct 9, 2019. Captured Oct 8, 2019 12:49 in 281 Main St S, Woodbury, CT 06798, USA.
comments (11)
Oh, and a fun tidbit about their larvae: The newly hatched larvae are called triungulins and have a unique purpose. They aggregate and release pheromones. The pheromones attract solitary male bees. The male bees will think the triungulins are a female bee and he will try to mate with them. His attempts cause him to become covered in triungulins, who hitchhike on him until he actually finds a real female bee to mate with. While mating with the female, he passes on the larvae to her. She unwittingly carries them back to her nest, where they feast on her pollen reserves that she had stocked up for her babies. The triungulins then molt into bigger larvae and they continue to feast on pollen and the bee's babies. Eventually, they pupate and emerge as adult beetles. Crazy, right?! Posted 5 years ago
Blister beetles are not insects to be taken lightly! When crushed or handled roughly, they release oily droplets of blood that contain cantharidin, which causes painful blistering and swelling. Blister beetles were once used medicinally in preparations called ‘Spanish fly’. The application of Spanish fly was a torturous therapy based on the idea that the resulting blisters would draw out the deadly humors and cure a person of whatever ailed them. In fact, George Washington had a famously unpleasant encounter with this barbaric therapy. In 1799, after taking ill with a sore throat, doctors applied Spanish fly to his neck to draw out the inflammation. The combination of Spanish fly therapy and four bloodlettings in the same day were too much for the former president, and he died.
The larvae of blister beetles have their own claim to fame. The newly hatched larvae, called triungulins, release pheromones that attract solitary male bees. The male bees are duped into thinking that the triungulins are actually female bees, and they try to mate with them. The triungulins jump aboard the male, hitchhiking on him until he finds a real female bee to mate with. While mating with the female, he passes on the triungulins to her, kind of like an STD. She unwittingly carries them back to her nest, where they feast on pollen reserves that she stocked up for her babies. The triungulins eventually molt into bigger larvae, while continuing to feast on pollen, in addition to the bee's babies. Eventually, they pupate and emerge as adult beetles. Blister beetles—whether in their adult and larval forms are certainly not boring! {Spotted in Connecticut, USA by JungleDragon moderator, Christine Young} #JungleDragon Posted 5 years ago
Niel Posted 4 years ago