Females lay eggs in soil from late summer into early fall. Eggs are laid in clusters and hatch in about two weeks. The larvae move over the soil and find grasshopper eggs on which they feed. Larvae develop through several stages until in the last or next to last stage they form a thickened skin which will protect them during the winter. These larvae overwinter in the soil, pupate the following spring, and depending on the species, emerge from the soil in June, July, or August.
Adults then feed, mate, and lay eggs for the next generation.
Infestations in alfalfa Blister beetle problems traditionally have been associated with alfalfa from arid, western states where environmental conditions encourage frequent grasshopper outbreaks. Although not as common, alfalfa from more eastern states may experience blister beetle problems in years following heavy grasshopper infestations. In Missouri, few if any blister beetles are present in the first cutting of alfalfa, but may be common in alfalfa harvested during July or August. These beetles are attracted to flowering vegetation and frequently feed on foliage, pollen, and nectar of alfalfa, soybean and weed plants. The effects of this feeding are usually minor.