Indian Blister Beetle vs Yellow-shouldered Christmas Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Indian Blister Beetle | Yellow-shouldered Christmas Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mylabris pustulata | Anoplognathus chloropyrus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Meloidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 15-25 mm | 16-22 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Forests |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Root Feeders |
| Regions | South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh) | Australia, Oceania |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Indian Blister Beetle
A striking beetle with black elytra marked with bright red or orange bands and spots. It produces cantharidin, a powerful blistering agent, and feeds on flowers in agricultural fields during monsoon season.
Did You Know?
Despite being a flower pest, blister beetle larvae are beneficial because they consume enormous quantities of grasshopper egg pods in the soil.
Yellow-shouldered Christmas Beetle
A medium-sized Christmas beetle recognisable by its yellowish-green pronotum contrasting with darker brown elytra. It is widespread in eastern Australian eucalyptus forests.
Did You Know?
Like other Christmas beetles, the larvae spend up to two years underground before emerging as adults in summer.