Information: Meloe cavensis, was described by Petagna in 1819.
Meloe cavensis is a medium-sized oil beetle species, characterized by a robust, strongly convex body and a typically metallic or matte black coloration. The elytra are significantly reduced (brachypterous), not covering the abdomen. Elytra leathery, coarsely pitted and wrinkled. The wrinkling encloses irregularly sized, flat, blister-like elevations that are either matte or glossy; the body metallic. The pronotum is wider than long, often trapezoidal in shape, and finely punctate. Antennae are filiform.
Body length: 12 - 22 mm
Peak activity: November - May
Remarks: Meloe cavensis inhabits open xerothermic grasslands, rocky slopes, and forest-steppe ecotones. It prefers calcareous soils with a high density of wild bee nests. Rare and locally distributed.
Distribution: Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Cyprus, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Syria, Spain, Tunisia, Turkey,
Zoogeographic region: Palearctic
Taxonomic classification:
Material examined (& observation):
Italy 
Sardinia
Oristano Province
San Giovanni di Sinis env.
(GPS) 
Altitude 10 m a.s.l. |
Our observation period: March ~ April
Sampling Methods: field edges in grass 
Italy
