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Family Cantharidae - Soldier Beetles

Malthodes again? - Malthodes 3016127 Trypherus - Trypherus Mating Goldenrod Soldier Beetles - Chauliognathus pensylvanicus - male - female Soldier beetle larva Unknown Beetle - Atalantycha bilineata Chauliognathus basalis? - Chauliognathus basalis - male - female SB - Podabrus Unidentified beetle in Alabama - Podabrus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Elateriformia)
Superfamily Elateroidea
Family Cantharidae (Soldier Beetles)
Other Common Names
Leatherwings
Explanation of Names
Cantharidae Imhoff 1856
common names: 'soldier beetle' comes from coloration resembling military uniform; 'leatherwing,' refers to soft elytra
Numbers
>470 spp. in 23 genera in our area(1), ~5100 spp. in 160 genera worldwide(2)
Overview of our fauna* –taxa not yet in the guide
Family CANTHARIDAE
Subfamily Cantharinae
Subfamily Silinae
Subfamily Malthininae
Subfamily Chauliognathinae
Identification
Head typically protrudes from under pronotum, visible from above, unlike in most Lampyridae. Tarsal formula 5-5-5, with the fourth segment lobed:

Larvae usually velvety:
Keys to eastern spp. in (3)
Range
worldwide and throughout NA(1)
Habitat
Adults mostly on vegetation, incl. flowers; larvae in leaf litter, loose soil, rotten wood, etc.(1)
Food
Adults eat nectar, pollen, other insects; larvae are fluid-feeding predators, feed on insect eggs and larvae(1)
Remarks
active mostly during the day, but some come to lights(1)
See Also
Osphya varians (Melandryidae) e.NA
Lampyridae (fireflies)
Internet References