About Hycleus polymorphus (Pallas, 1771)
Adults of Hycleus polymorphus reach 11–20 millimetres (0.43–0.79 inches) in length. These beetles have elongated soft bodies, with long erect black hairs covering the head and pronotum. Their basic body color is completely black, with yellow-orange stripes running across the elytra, and two yellow-orange spots that are enclosed within the elytra's apical dark bands. Individuals of this species display highly variable color patterns, which is the origin of the specific epithet polymorphus. The anterior and middle black bands of the elytra extend to the outer border of the elytra and along the elytral suture. This species is very closely similar in appearance to Mylabris variabilis; unlike Hycleus polymorphus, Mylabris variabilis lacks apical elytral spots, and has black bands of varying extension. Hycleus polymorphus can be found across most of Europe, the Near East, and the eastern Palearctic realm. It occurs primarily in mountainous habitats.
