Insects and Spiders

Here I Am!

It finally came out where I could see more of it. You can see the entire length of the mouth part here as it prepares to insert it again. Blister beetles get their names due to the fact you can get blisters on your skin if you handle them. For defense, they secrete a blistering agent called Cantharidin. When mating, the male gifts a wad of it to the female and she uses it to cover her eggs to protect them.
Blister Beetle (Nemognatha piazata)
Texas Thistle (Cirsium texanum)

Nemognatha piazataBlister Beetlebeetlenectarnectaringmacroinsectpollinatorpollinatorspollinatepollenfeedingclose upTexas ThistleCirsium texanumwildflowertexas wildflowernative wildflowernativethistlecollin countymckinney texasruralMisty's 10 acresnew species for me