About Lytta magister Horn, 1870
Lytta magister, commonly known as the desert blister beetle or master blister beetle, is a species of blister beetle that occurs in southwestern North America. Adults typically measure between 16 and 33 mm (0.6 to 1.3 inches) in length, and have a distinct appearance: their head, legs, and prothorax are striking red, while their elytra are black. In spring, this species can be found in very large numbers, and often forms visible swarms, across the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. Female Lytta magister lay eggs in holes dug into desert soil. The larvae are insectivorous, and primarily target bee nests. Larvae consume the immature bee host along with the food provisions stored in the nest, and are able to survive on just the stored provisions alone. Because of this, they are not obligate parasitoids; they are classified as food parasites that are facultatively parasitoid, or simply considered predatory. Adult Lytta magister feed on the flowers and leaves of brittlebush. While this species is not venomous, it is capable of biting.
