conjoined

I don't know what these two think they are up to.

I have lived here more than 25 years and have never seen this beetle before. Today there were literally hundreds of them on a small stretch of the path through Tonto Verde National Forest. Quite big too - about 2" long - and then there were these two that seemed fused at their ends. The one on the left was literally dragging the one on the right - its legs flailing - through the bushes!

I did some research, I think it is an iron cross blister beetle and they have a nasty chemical in them evidently. If I find out about this particular duo, will try and post when this page is still live.