Lytta magister, the desert blister beetle or master blister beetle, is a species of
blister beetle found in southwestern
North America.
Typically 16 to 33 mm (0.6 to 1.3 in) in length, L. magister has a striking red head, legs and
prothorax, with black
elytra. They can be found in great numbers in the
Mojave and
Colorado Deserts in spring, and are often seen in
swarms.[1]
Females lay eggs in holes in the desert soil. The
larvae are
insectivorous, mainly attacking
bee nests.[2] They consume the immature host along with its provisions, and can often survive on the provisions alone, thus they are not obligatory
parasitoids but rather food
parasites that are facultatively parasitoid, or simply
predatory. Adults feed on flowers and leaves of
brittlebush. Though they are not venomous, they can in fact bite.[1]
Lytta magister, the desert blister beetle or master blister beetle, is a species of
blister beetle found in southwestern
North America.
Typically 16 to 33 mm (0.6 to 1.3 in) in length, L. magister has a striking red head, legs and
prothorax, with black
elytra. They can be found in great numbers in the
Mojave and
Colorado Deserts in spring, and are often seen in
swarms.[1]
Females lay eggs in holes in the desert soil. The
larvae are
insectivorous, mainly attacking
bee nests.[2] They consume the immature host along with its provisions, and can often survive on the provisions alone, thus they are not obligatory
parasitoids but rather food
parasites that are facultatively parasitoid, or simply
predatory. Adults feed on flowers and leaves of
brittlebush. Though they are not venomous, they can in fact bite.[1]