Beetle larvae mimic flower scents to attract bee hosts

image via New Scientist

April 12, 2026, 11:00 AM

• •Blister beetle larvae mimic flowers visually and chemically.
• •Larvae emit floral scents to attract bees.
• •Bees transport larvae to their nests.
• •Larvae feed on bee eggs and supplies.

European blister beetle larvae cluster together, mimicking the appearance of flowers while emitting floral scents to attract bees. Researchers discovered that these larvae emit a collection of 17 scented compounds, including linalool oxide and lilac aldehyde, commonly found in flowers. This chemical mimicry allows the larvae to hitchhike on bees to their nests, where they feed on bee eggs and supplies. Experts note this strategy is a surprising evolutionary approach used by blister beetles to attract specific bee species.

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