Meloidae
Pronunciation: [Me⋅LO·i·dae]
Common Name: Blister Beetles
Description: Meloids are elongate, parallel-sided beetles with a pronotum that is usually narrower than both the head and pronotum. The elytra are relatively soft and wrap around the sides of the body. The tarsal formula is 5-5-4 (similar to darkling beetles), but the tarsal claws of meloids are split lengthwise to give the appearance of four claws on each foot. Adult blister beetles feed on nectar and pollen; the larvae are predators of grasshopper eggs or parasites of bee larvae.
Spot ID Key Characters:
- Narrow pronotum
- 5-5-4 tarsal formula
- Tarsal Claws split
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Order: Coleoptera
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