Blister beetles in this genus can be found worldwide. In the US, they are more diverse in the west. There are two very different things about these blister beetles — 1) they have a very long mouthpart (like a straw) that’s used to suck nectar from flowers; and 2) the females lay eggs on flowers. The emerging larvae parasitize bee nests and will hitch a ride to a nest (and their food) on a bee that visits the flowers.

Photo by: Glenn Marangelo on 6/26/21 in the National Bison Range near Moiese, MT