Names and Taxonomy
- Common Names: False Blister Beetle, Red-necked False Blister Beetle
- Synonyms: None
- Order: Coleoptera
- Family: False Blister Beetles (Oedemeridae)
- Genus Information: Number of Species 2 in CA, 1 in NV, 2 in US
Rhinoplatia ruficollis
False Blister Beetle
Introduction:
Rhinoplatia ruficollis is an intriguing desert-adapted false blister beetle notable for its unusually elongated snout or rostrum. This unique anatomical feature allows it to reach deep inside desert flowers to feed on nectar and pollen, making it an important pollinator across arid southwestern habitats.
Life Cycle: Adults emerge in spring and early summer to mate on desert flora, where females lay eggs in soil or decaying plant debris. Larvae feed and develop in dead wood or leaf litter before pupating.
Size 0.20 to 0.47 in (0.5 to 1.2 cm)
Sexual Dimorphism: Females are typically slightly larger and possess broader abdomens than males.
Metamorphosis: complete (egg, larva, pupa, adult)
