Meloe franciscanus is endemic to the southwestern United States where it is found among dunes in deserts.

This habitat is variable and includes patches of vegetation surrounded by barren areas of sand.

One of the plants here is Astragalus lentiginosus which provides food for the adult beetles, which are flightless, and nectar for their host bees.

[5] The larvae of this beetle successfully make use of sexual deception by mimicking the mating signals of another insect species.

The beetle larvae emerge from the ground in a group, ascend vegetation one after the other and form themselves into a compact ball in an elevated location.