Moved from Epicauta. I'll build the page next week when we are back in town:)

(Again, I am in awe of your excellent series of photos--crisp focus, great lighting, wow!) I see Eric Eaton has made some comments on Troy's photos, and they look similar. I think this is Epicauta species, as Eric has commented on at least one photo by Troy. Also see Insects of Cedar Creek.

Now, for a very interesting story. Univ. of Florida Extension Service has an annotated checklist of Florida blister beetles. (I am impressed.) Does look rather like. E. fabricii, the "Ash-gray Blister Beetle", which is pretty common and widespread. Might help to know what sort of plant this was on. That checklist lists plant associates. The plant in your photo looks to me like sensitive-brier, a common Florida Scrub plant. (I'm a pretty fair botanist, though not formally trained, and I have spent some time identifying Florida plants.) That's a member of the pea family (Leguminosae). That family is listed as a host for E. fabricii, but Shrankia is specifically listed as a hostplant for Epicauta floridensis. That's an "aha"! Seems rather suspicious. Might want to note that in your comments and have a link to the Univ. of Florida documents. I don't see any images of E. floridensis on the web. An interesting possibility, and fun speculation for me, at least.

Patrick Coin
Durham, North Carolina