Desert Blister Beetle vs Common Aleocharine
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Desert Blister Beetle | Common Aleocharine |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Epicauta puncticollis | Atheta coriaria |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Meloidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 10-18 mm | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Meadows | Underground |
| Diet | Herbivores | Predators |
| Regions | North America | Holarctic, now distributed globally through commercial biocontrol |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Desert Blister Beetle
A soft-bodied beetle that produces cantharidin, a blistering toxin, in its hemolymph. It feeds on desert wildflowers after seasonal rains.
Did You Know?
Its larvae are parasites that consume grasshopper eggs buried in desert soil.
Common Aleocharine
A tiny, dark brown aleocharine rove beetle now commercially sold as a biological control agent. It is an aggressive predator of fungus gnat larvae, thrips, and shore fly larvae in greenhouses.
Did You Know?
This beetle is sold commercially by biocontrol companies and released by the thousands in greenhouses to control fungus gnats organically.