Cantharidae
Imhoff, 1856
Soldier Beetles, Leatherwings
Subfamily Guides
4- Cantharinae(soldier beetles)
- Chauliognathinae(soldier beetles)
- Malthininae(soldier beetles)
- Silinae(soldier beetles)
Soldier beetles () are soft-bodied, elongate beetles with flexible, velvety that give rise to the 'leatherwings.' The is , with approximately 160 in 11 occurring in California alone. are frequently observed on flowers, particularly in late summer and fall, where they feed on pollen and nectar and prey on small insects. Both adults and larvae produce defensive chemicals from specialized glands, making them distasteful to . The common name derives from the red-and-black color pattern of some species, reminiscent of British military uniforms.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Cantharidae: //kænˈθɛrɪdiː//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
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Distribution
. Found on all continents except Antarctica. In North America, common include Cantharis, Chauliognathus, and Podabrus.
Seasonality
are most active during late summer and fall, with peak activity coinciding with goldenrod bloom.
Diet
feed on pollen and nectar, and are predatory on aphids and other small insects. Larvae are predatory on soil-dwelling .
Behavior
are and frequently observed on flowers. When disturbed, adults may withdraw their legs and drop to the ground in a death-feigning response. Both adults and larvae can excrete noxious defensive chemicals from specialized abdominal glands.
Ecological Role
Important of aphids and other soft-bodied insects in agricultural and garden settings. contribute to pollination while foraging on flowers.
Human Relevance
Considered beneficial insects in gardens and agricultural systems due to . Some serve as Müllerian mimics in coloration complexes with other chemically defended beetles.
Similar Taxa
- Meloidae (blister beetles)Both share soft, flexible and similar aposematic coloration; however, blister beetles have a more rounded body form and different antennal structure.
- Melyridae (soft-winged flower beetles)Similar soft and flower-visiting habits; distinguished by different body proportions and often more varied coloration.
- Lycidae (net-winged beetles)Share black-and-orange warning coloration and soft bodies; net-winged beetles have distinctive reticulate elytral venation and often display -raising .
Sources and further reading
- BugGuide
- GBIF taxonomy match
- iNaturalist taxon
- NCBI Taxonomy
- Catalogue of Life
- Entomologists Did These! | Bug Squad
- Bug Eric: A Beetle Mimicry Complex
- ID Challenge #8 | Beetles In The Bush
- Amorpha borer on goldenrod | Beetles In The Bush
- Bug of the Week
- 9th Annual Fall Tiger Beetle Trip: Day 2 | Beetles In The Bush
- Taxonomic revision of Pygodiscodon (Coleoptera: Cantharidae)
- Three new species and distributional records for Paramaronius Wittmer (Coleoptera, Cantharidae, Chauliognathinae)
- Description of two new species of the genus Stenothemus from Taiwan (Coleoptera: Cantharidae)
- A checklist of the soldier beetles (Coleoptera: Elateroidea: Cantharidae) of Iran
- Taxonomic notes on the genus Laemoglyptus Fairmaire from Taiwan (Coleoptera, Cantharidae)
- The genome sequence of the soldier beetle, Malthodes minimus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Cantharidae).