Genus Podabrus

Classification · Numbers · Identification · Food · Remarks · Print References · Works Cited

Podabrus tricostatus? - Podabrus tricostatus

Cantharid eating a velvet mite - Podabrus rugosulus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Elateroidea (Click, Firefly and Soldier Beetles)

Family Cantharidae (Soldier Beetles)

Genus Podabrus

Numbers

Nearctica.com lists 110 species

49 species in Canada & Alaska (PDF doc - Soldier Beetles of Canada & Alaska)

Identification

Dillon and Dillon (1) give the following characters for the genus:

head elongated and narrowed behind eyes to form a distinct "neck"

head not covered by pronotum

apical (front) margin on pronotum truncated

seventh ventral segment (abdomen) of male truncated at apex, eighth segment exposed

tarsal claws with a long, acute tooth

Food

Found on foliage, adults likely prey on aphids, other insects (2).

Remarks

Likely mimics of Lampyridae and/or Lycidae, e.g., Podabrus rugosulus:

or Bombardier Beetles, e.g., Podabrus pruinosus:

Print References

Sikes, p. 158, lists 5 species for Rhode Island (2).

Works Cited

1.	A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America By Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence

2.	The Beetle Fauna of Rhode Island, an Annotated Checklist By Derek Sikes

Contributed by Cotinis on 2 January, 2005 - 6:48pm
Additional contributions by Robin McLeod
Last updated 13 April, 2008 - 10:43pm

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