Inflated Beetle

Inflated Beetle

Cysteodemus armatus

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
at Joshua Tree National Park

In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%

125 Verified sightings at Joshua Tree National Park From 2019 to 2026
168 In all 2 parks
April Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Inflated Beetle

Cysteodemus armatus, the inflated blister beetle, is a species of blister beetle in the family Meloidae. It is found in Central America and North America. The wing covers, which are mostly glabrous, are inflated to the point of almost covering part of the thorax. They are black, densely spotted with white. The elytra are fused along the middle, meaning that the beetle cannot fly. Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~30%
2 Joshua Tree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~30%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing an Inflated Beetle in Joshua Tree National Park?

Possible

About 30% of wildlife watchers report an Inflated Beetle sighting in Joshua Tree National Park on a given day, based on 125 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 16th most-seen of the 190 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see an Inflated Beetle in Joshua Tree National Park?

March and April

In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report an Inflated Beetle in Joshua Tree National Park on a given day, against under 5% in June to January, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see an Inflated Beetle?

Between 9 am and noon

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Inflated Beetle sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Joshua Tree National Park the best place to see an Inflated Beetle?

Among the best

Of the 2 parks where we can rate Inflated Beetle sightings, Joshua Tree National Park ranks 2nd at about 30%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Death Valley National Park (United States, about 30%).

Which relatives of the Inflated Beetle live in Joshua Tree National Park?

Same family: Meloidae

The closest relatives of the Inflated Beetle that you can see in Joshua Tree National Park (family Meloidae, Blister Beetles) are Master Blister Beetle (about 20%), Green Blister Beetle (about 10%) and Elegant Blister Beetle (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Inflated Beetle sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Inflated Beetle is recorded against all the insects logged in Joshua Tree National Park (125 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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