Species Atalantycha bilineata - Two-lined Leather-wing

Two-lined Cantharid, Cantharide birayee (French)

Cantharis bilineatus Say

Telephorus bilineatus (Say)

Ancistronychus bilineatus (spelling/gender differences)

Ancistronycha bilineata (Say) (placed in a new Genus Atalantycha by Kazantsev (The Coleopterists Bulletin, 59(2):204–210. 2005, A Review of Ancistronycha Markel with the Description of Atalantycha, PDF))

6-7.5 mm

Small cantharid, dark, somewhat hairy elytra, bright red/orange abdomen. Red/orange pronotum, with two strong black marks. Basal segments of antennae are yellow. Appears to be abundant in early spring in much of east.

Eastern North America. From Ontario to Nova Scotia, south to Florida, and (?) Texas.

Forests, edges

Spring. March-April (North Carolina).

Dillon (1) states the adults like the flowers of Red Haw, Viburnum rufidulum.

Larvae, perhaps, feed in rotting wood, since there appear to be swarms emerging/and or mating around fallen logs in North Carolina (P. Coin, pers. observation). Needs confirmation from other observers. Mating is prolonged in this species--I have seen it go on for days. The larger female drags the male along, and he seems unable or unwilling to let go. The male of the related genus Cantharis has been observed to allow the female to feed on him as a nuptial gift: Preston-Mafham, p. 11 (2). This behvior should be looked for in Ancistronycha.

Formerly in genus Cantharis, and listed that way in most guides.

Dillon plate XXVI #12 (1)

Papp fig. 285 (3)

Arnett fig. 505 (4)

Brimley, p. 155 (5)

Salsbury, p. 197--photo (6)

All those list the species under Cantharis.

Photo at Insects of Quebec

This species is well represented in the collection at North Carolina State University, with 121 pinned.

Beetles of Florida--gives range