brokig majbagge
Meloe variegatus
Meloe variegatus is a European oil beetle. It is commonly known as the variegated oil beetle.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meloe_variegatus
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Meloidae
Genus
Meloe
brokig majbagge belongs to the family Meloidae, order Coleoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Meloe variegatus is a European oil beetle. It is commonly known as the variegated oil beetle. Adult beetles feed on leaves and can be pests of crops, while the larvae are parasitic on solitary bees.
Meloe variegatus, the variegated oil beetle, faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of flower-rich grasslands and meadows essential for both adult feeding and their complex parasitic lifecycle. Agricultural intensification, pesticide use, and loss of wild bee hosts have further compromised this species' survival across its European range.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
M. variegatus is classified as 'regionally extinct' in the United Kingdom. It can still be found in central Europe and the Iberian peninsula.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Meloe variegatus, the variegated oil beetle, faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss and degradation of flower-rich grasslands and meadows essential for both adult feeding and their complex parasitic lifecycle. Agricultural intensification, pesticide use, and loss of wild bee hosts have further compromised this species' survival across its European range.
Agricultural intensification and conversion of natural habitats
Decline of wild bee host populations
Habitat loss and fragmentation of flower-rich grasslands
Climate change altering habitat suitability
Pesticide use affecting both the species and its hosts
Community Sightings
Report a sightingNo community sightings yet. Be the first to report!
Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). brokig majbagge (Meloe variegatus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/brokig-majbagge