Native to California, this particular blister beetle has an orange-red head and pronotum, and a black body. It is often found flying in fields or walking among flowers. Like other types of blister beetles, this species releases a chemical called cantharidin that can burn skin and leave red blisters on the area of contact.©BeetleIdentification.org
The Blister Beetle: L. aeneipennis is typically 0.1 inches to 0.4 inches (5mm to 12mm) in size and has the following descriptors / identifiers: black; red; orange; red head; red neck; burning; chemical; spray; painful; blister; flying; flower; firefly.
Territorial Area Map (Visual Reference Guide)
The map below showcases (in blue) the states and territories of North America where the Blister Beetle: L. aeneipennis may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data can be useful in seeing concentrations of a particular species over the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some species are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America.
