Hycleus scabiosae Beetle Hycleus scabiosae

The bright red colour of Hycleus beetles shows predators that they are toxic. H. scabiosae is much smaller than the Mylabris species in its region (above centre with M.calida). Most Hycleus species are from warmer regions in sub-Saharan Africa and subHimalayan Asia, but H. scabiosae is known to be in Turkey, Armenia and Iran so is probably this species photographed in S. Kazakhstan.

Above right is probably also this species since it was in the same area at the same time as the others, is a similar size and has a grey hairy neck. (Both IDs questionnable.)