Goldenrod Soldier Beetle

Chauliognathus pensylvanicus

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Elateroidea
Family: Cantharidae
Subfamily: Chauliognathinae
Tribe: Chauliognathini
Genus: Chauliognathus
Species: pensylvanicus

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Chauliognathus pensylvanicus: //ˌkaʊ.li.əʊɡˈneɪ.θəs ˌpɛn.səlˈvæn.ɪ.kəs//

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Summary

The goldenrod soldier beetle (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus) is a beneficial species of soldier beetle, prominent as a pollinator target in North America during late summer and early fall, known for its interaction with certain plants and susceptibility to fungal infection.

Physical Characteristics

9-12 mm; very distinctive appearance

Identification Tips

Recognizable by their yellow and black coloration, particularly on flowers; active late summer to early fall.

Habitat

Open fields, prairies, grasslands, parks, roadsides; also found in alvars, sand dunes, and abandoned fields.

Distribution

Native to North America; common in the Midwest, rare in the Boreal zone.

Diet

Adults primarily feed on pollen and nectar of fall flowers, especially goldenrod (Solidago); larvae feed on locust eggs, insect larvae, cucumber beetles, and other Diabrotica spp.

Life Cycle

Eggs are deposited in soil or leaf litter; pupation occurs in spring in the soil.

Predators

Fungal pathogen Eryniopsis lampyridarum and other predators in its ecosystem.

Ecosystem Role

Important pollinator, especially of prairie onion.

Evolution

The specific epithet 'pensylvanicus' is Latin for 'of Pennsylvania', reflecting the geographic origin of the species discussed in early descriptions.

Misconceptions

The beetles may be mistaken for harmful beetles due to their appearance, but they are beneficial pollinators.