Explanation of Names
Author of genus is
Linnaeus, 1758.
From Greek κανθαρισ, a "blistering fly", that from κανθαροσ, a beetle, that Greek word also referred to a fish
(1).
Numbers
Arnett
(2) states there are about 60 spp. of this genus in North America.
Nearctica.com lists 22 species
Identification
Similar to
Podabrus, but has no "neck", i.e., pronotum overlaps head considerably. Dillon and Dillon
(3) give the following characters
(3):
head partly concealed, short and broad
last segment of maxillary palpi dilated, "hatchet-shaped"
anterior margin of pronotum truncate, sides not notched, posterior angles rounded
elytra cover wings entirely
tarsal claws variable: simple, cleft, or toothed, inner and outer claws sometimes not similar
Habitat
Typically found on low herbs and shrubs.
Life Cycle
Some, if not most, species have a protracted mating period, and the male may die while mated.
Print References
The Century Dictionary--entries for
Cantharid,
Cantharis (1)
Dillon, pp. 259-264, plates XXVI, XXVII
(3)Internet References
Insects of Cedar Creek has photos of six species from Minnesota.
North Carolina State University's collection lists six species for that state: cruralis*, impressus*, lecontei, marginellus, rotundicollis*, tuberculatus--those marked with an astersik (*), have more than 10 specimens in the collection
