Information: Mylabris variabilis was described by Pallas in 1782 originally as Meloe variabilis from Russia (Siberia).
Mylabris variabilis can reach a body length of 8–20 mm. 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.
Setae uniformly black, but mixed golden and black on legs; antennommeres black, rarely partially dark reddish, III ca. 1.5 times as long as IV, apical antennomeres clearly widened, XI less than twice as long as wide ; pronotum without fore transverse depression; elytral black pattern very variable, if the basal series composed by a fascia, it always extends to the base along the suture, if it fragmented in spots, the external spot wider or subequal to the inner one, the apical fascia wide; mesosternal “scutum” sub-triangularly shaped; gonoforceps in lateral view only slightly curved before the apical lobe, fused ventrally in basal third; distal hook of aedeagus positioned almost at apex, proximal hook close to the distal one.
This species shows a great variability of elytral pattern (Fig.), this including large variation of fore and middle black spots and fasciae. 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. In particular, the Sicilian populations are phenetically well distinct because of the middle fascia narrower and clearly sinuous.
Body length: 8 - 20 mm
Peak activity: April - September (depends on region)
Remarks: Mylabris variabilis is typically found in warm, open environments such as dry grasslands, meadows, field edges, and roadside verges. It prefers sunny areas with abundant flowering plants, especially in Mediterranean and semi-arid regions. These habitats provide ideal conditions for adult beetles to feed on pollen and nectar, and for larvae to find hosts for their parasitic development. The species is commonly associated with undisturbed or lightly cultivated habitats where wildflowers are abundant.
Distribution: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan?, Macedonia, Montenegro, Moldova, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Taxonomic classification:
Material examined (& observation):
Our observation period: July ~ August
Sampling Methods: on bush and flowers 
Slovakia
