Mylabris variabilis
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| Mylabris variabilis | |
|---|---|
.JPG) | |
| Mylabris variabilis. Dorsal view | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Cucujiformia |
| Family: | Meloidae |
| Genus: | Mylabris |
| Species: | M. variabilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Mylabris variabilis (Pallas, 1782) | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Mylabris variabilis is a species of blister beetle belonging to the Meloidae family.
- Mylabris variabilis var. disrupta Baudi, 1878
- Mylabris variabilis var. lacera Fischer von Waldheim, 1827
- Mylabris variabilis var. mutabilis Mars
- Mylabris variabilis var. sturmi Baudi
Distribution
This common species is present in most of Southern Europe, from the Iberian Peninsula to southern Russia. [2] It can also be found in Caucaus and Transcaucasia, Near East and northern Levant, Middle East and Central Asia and Siberia. [3]
Description
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Mylabris variabilis can reach a body length of 8–20 millimetres (0.31–0.79 in).[3] These beetles have a cylindrical, elongate body with relatively convex, yellow-orange elytra and wide transverse black wavy stripes. Head is square shaped, with a flat forehead. Antennae are black and long with eleven segments. Pronotum is long and wide, with parallel sides. [4] The size of the black markings and the color of elytra are very variable[3] (hence the specie name variabilis). The color of their elytra can range from a yellow, to orange to a light brown. Normally they have three black bands. The 1st and 2nd bands are sometimes divided into four distinct spots. [4] They are however distinguished from the similar species by a black stripe ath the end of the abdomen. This species is very similar to Mylabris pannonica Kaszab, 1956.
Biology
This species has a very complex biological cycle. Adults fly from June to September, feeding on flowers. During the larval stage they feed on eggs and larvae of grasshoppers.[3]