Soldier Beetles

Cantharidae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Elateroidea
Family: Cantharidae

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.

Images

Podabrus flavicollis by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Podabrus intrusus by Jacy Lucier. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Podabrus brunnicollis imported from iNaturalist photo 8176082 on 27 February 2022 by (c) pbedell, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA). Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Podabrus fayi (48067680248) by Christina Butler from Georgia, United States. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Podabrus rugosulus mating by Beatriz Moisset. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.

Podabrus brevicollis 26257438 by Bill Keim. Used under a CC BY 4.0 license.

Summary

The soldier beetles (Cantharidae) are soft-bodied beetles known for their ecological roles as pollinators and predators in various habitats. They are named for their resemblance to the red coats of British soldiers and have a cosmopolitan distribution.

Physical Characteristics

Adult beetles are soft and somewhat flattened, with parallel sides, long legs and long, usually threadlike antennae. Many species are colorful and aposematic. They lack light organs and have a tarsal formula of 5-5-5, with the fourth segment lobed.

Identification Tips

The head is typically visible from above, somewhat protruding under the pronotum, unlike in Lampyridae.

Habitat

Adults are mostly found on vegetation, often on flowers; larvae inhabit leaf litter, loose soil, and rotten wood.

Distribution

Cosmopolitan distribution, with over 470 species in 23 genera in our area and around 5100 species in 160 genera worldwide.

Diet

Adults primarily consume nectar and pollen, while larvae are fluid-feeding predators that feed on insect eggs and larvae.

Life Cycle

Adults are active mostly during the day, but some species may come to lights at night.

Reproduction

Large males tend to choose larger females, with body size impacting mating success for both sexes.

Ecosystem Role

Soldier beetles contribute to pollination as adults and help control pest populations as larvae.

Cultural Significance

Their name derives from the color pattern of some species that resembles the red coats of early British soldiers. They are also known as leatherwings due to their soft elytra.

Evolution

The oldest described member of the family is Molliberus from the Early Cretaceous, and there are several described genera from Late Cretaceous amber.