The beetle is easily recognizable due to its contrasting yellow and red spots found on its black body.

The adults feed on spring blossoms of Nama hispidum and Eriastrum, alfalfa, and other desert plants.

[5] In Tegrodera aloga, cantharidin is excreted through the leg joints and the antennal pores.

Iron cross blister beetles are known to be found in horses’ food, especially alfalfa.

These beetles are starting to pose a problem for farmers in California due to them being “killed during harvest and incorporated into baled hay, or indirectly by transfer of the hemolymph from crushed beetles onto forage.”[12] This beetle is also considered beneficial because cantharidin is used in the medical field as a topical medication in the removal of warts, removal of tattoos, and has even been looked into for certain cancer treatments.