Species Eupompha elegans - Elegant Blister Beetle

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Food · Internet References · Works Cited

Elegant blister beetle - Eupompha elegans

Eupompha elegans elegans - Eupompha elegans

Eupompha elegans perpulchra - Eupompha elegans

Black and orange beetle - Eupompha elegans

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Tenebrionoidea (Fungus, Bark, Darkling and Blister Beetles)

Family Meloidae (Blister Beetles)

Subfamily Meloinae

Tribe Eupomphini

Genus Eupompha

Species elegans (Elegant Blister Beetle)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Calospasta (1)

Explanation of Names

eu (G). Good, well

Pomph (G). A blister (2)

Numbers

There are 12 species of Eupompha in the southwestern U.S. and Mexico (1)

Size

7 - 13 mm

Identification

Black head & thorax; elytra may be variably marked with black and orange, some dark blue populations. (Evans & Hogue, description and photo (3); for another pattern see the Meloidae.com internet link)

Food

Adult blister beetles, if they feed at all, are strictly plant feeders, consuming leaves and flowers. (4)

This species, though recorded feeding on eight plant families, mostly feed on members of the Sunflower family (Asteraceae). (3)

Internet References

Riverside Co., California collected specimen posted on Meloidae.com

Works Cited

1.	American Beetles, Volume II: Polyphaga: Scarabaeoidea through Curculionoidea By Arnett, R.H., Jr., M. C. Thomas, P. E. Skelley and J. H. Frank. (eds.)

2.	Dictionary of Word Roots and Combining Forms By Donald J. Borror

3.	Field Guide to Beetles of California By Arthur V. Evans and James N. Hogue

4.	Introduction to California Beetles (California Natural History Guides, No 78) By Arthur V. Evans, James N. Hogue

Contributed by Mike Quinn on 2 September, 2006 - 9:06pm
Additional contributions by Hartmut Wisch
Last updated 2 May, 2008 - 11:36am

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2012 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version