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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Fungus, Bark, Darkling and Blister Beetles (Tenebrionoidea) » Blister Beetles (Meloidae) » Meloinae » Oil Beetles (Meloe)
Photo#332541
Large iridescent garden eating insect. New exotic? - Meloe
Copyright © 2009 Anne Niemiec

Large iridescent garden eating insect. New exotic? - Meloe
Baldwinsville, Onondaga County, New York, USA
September 11, 2009
Size: 1 Inch
I often get photos from friends and family asking me to ID bugs and other creatures. For the first time in a long time, this thing has me stumped. My mother-in-law said it was about an inch long, iridescent black/purple, and is eating her garden plants. It looks like some sort of juvenile Blattaria (cockroach) except for the thorax. I don't even know where to start with this thing! Any ideas? Sorry the photos are not real clear.

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Large iridescent garden eating insect. New exotic? - Meloe Large iridescent garden eating insect. New exotic? - Meloe
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Contributed by jganjay on 13 September, 2009 - 6:44pm
Last updated 6 October, 2009 - 6:37pm

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… Ken Schneider, 6 October, 2009 - 6:37pm login or register to post comments

1 inch black bug
I live in Scotland and I fond one of these bugs going across my living room floor this morning the 15 september i got so much of a fright that i squashed it it took a couple of gos to kill it but befor i killed it it turnd its tail up in an agresive manor so i would be grateful f some one new if it was dangeruse as i have kids.

thanks to all Roseann
… Roseann Hannon, 15 September, 2009 - 4:36am login or register to post comments

Blister beetle
Not exotic. I think it's a Meloe.
… Charley Eiseman, 13 September, 2009 - 6:49pm login or register to post comments

 
Blister beetle
I found one of these the other day in my yard while raking leaves. All black and about an inch long. It had an agressive behavior as it reared up it's back end similiar to that of a scorpion, produced a "V" shaped appendage and attempted to strike with when provoked. 1st one I have ever seen. I live in the Pacific Northwest near Portland Oregon.
… ljohnson1, 14 September, 2009 - 11:12am login or register to post comments

 
must have been something different [like a rove beetle]
Meloidae are unable to show behaviour you describe
… v belov, 14 September, 2009 - 11:17am login or register to post comments

 
Male...
Not sure what Meloe species it is though...
… Miles Zhang, 13 September, 2009 - 7:26pm login or register to post comments

 
Meloe may be tough to ID to species...
...even from much sharper male photos; in this case the options include americanus & impressus. Six species are known to occur in NY.
… v belov, 13 September, 2009 - 8:34pm login or register to post comments

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