Meloe laevis

Leach, 1815

oil beetle

Meloe laevis, commonly known as the , is a in the . It is found across the Caribbean, Central America, and North America. Like other members of the Meloe, it exhibits and is a nest of solitary . The has been documented feeding on potatoes and alfalfa, and its consumption by humans has been recorded in Chiapas, Mexico.

Meloe laevis by CK Kelly. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Meloe laevis: //ˈmɛloʊ ˈliːvɪs//

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Distribution

Caribbean, Central America, and North America. Specific countries with records include Colombia, Rica, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and the United States.

Diet

have been documented feeding on potatoes and alfalfa. are parasitic, feeding on larvae and nest provisions.

Host Associations

  • solitary bees - () are nest . They climb onto flowers, attach to visiting , and are transported to bee nests where they feed on provisions and bee larvae.

Life Cycle

hatch in summer. are hypermetamorphic: newly hatched climb onto flowers, attach to visiting , and are transported to bee nests. In the nest, they transform into a -like form, feed on bee provisions and larvae, then pupate and emerge as .

Behavior

When disturbed, may remain upright or fall onto one side, drawing legs toward the body and becoming motionless except for occasional leg flicking. A dark orange liquid exudes from leg joints, and adults may regurgitate when handled. Males court females by stroking and palpating the female's body with their . Females excavate soil cavities for -laying, then backfill and tamp down soil as they exit. Females may lay eggs multiple times in their lives.

Ecological Role

Nest of solitary . Each Meloe may attack a single bee species or , or various species.

Human Relevance

contain , potent irritants that cause skin blistering upon contact. Consumption of adult M. laevis has been documented in Chiapas, Mexico. The can be an agricultural pest on potatoes and alfalfa.

More Details

Taxonomic note

The is placed in the subgenus Treiodous within Meloe. The Wikipedia article contains a misspelling 'Meloe leaevis' that appears in the courtship and interactions sections.

Sources and further reading