The Blister beetles (Genus Maloe) are known as “oil beetles” because

they release oily droplets from their joints when disturbed.

This contains a poisonous chemical causing blistering of the skin and painful swelling.

Members of this genus are typically flightless.

As in other members of the family, they go through several larval stages,

the first of which finds and attaches to a host in order to gain access to the host’s offspring.

The oil beetle which is flightless waits for the arrival of the bee in this traditional pose-

ready to take off along with the bee into its nest and to live on its young larva.

In this genus, the host is a bee. Each species of Meloe may attack

only a single species or genus of bees.

The Meloe larva consumes the bee larva along with its provisions,

and can often survive on the provisions alone.