Iron Cross Blister Beetle (Tegrodera aloga)
Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Iron Cross Blister Beetle.
Updated: 8/29/2017; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org
Iron Cross Blister Beetle
Native to the Sonoran desert, the Iron Cross Blister Beetle is dangerous to touch and poisonous to eat, making it hazardous to people, pets and livestock.
The bright yellow network covering black elytra are warning colors themselves. Add the red head to the overall appearance of the Iron Cross Blister Beetle and it becomes a bonafide alarm. A parting of the yellow at the midline and in the center of the elytra form a black cross. This species eats native wildflowers and herbs as well as the leaves of crop plants like alfalfa, potatoes, beans, and clover. This agricultural diet increases the likelihood of a human encounter in the field. Adults are active in the day, and sometimes at night, and it is usually seen meandering on the ground or feeding on a plant, many times with others.
A toxic chemical called cantharidin is secreted from the legs and antennae of an Iron Cross Beetle when handled or touched, which causes painful blisters on human skin as well as on animals. If eaten in enough quantities, it can kill. While most people would refrain from eating beetles, this insect is sometimes unwittingly consumed by horses and livestock feeding on the plants where the beetle is present, causing death. Pets may also try to eat them. This same chemical has been used medicinally to kill and remove warts, so it helpful to people, too.
If seen, avoid contact with the Iron Cross Beetle and keep a wary eye for others that may be nearby.
