Soldier Beetles: Difference between revisions
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Soldier beetles (Cantharidae) are the second largest group in the beetle (Coleoptera) superfamily Elateroidea, containing approximatley 5,500 species. These beetles are common throughout the temperate region of the northern hemisphere <ref name= "motyka">Motyka, M., Kusy, D., Biffi, G., Geiser, M., Kazantsev, S.V., Bilkova, R., Jahodarova, E., Vogler, A.P., Bocak, L.. (2023). Untangling the evolution of soldier beetles ([[Coleoptera]]: Cantharidae) and the evaluation of the morphological phylogenetic signal in a soft-bodied elateroid lineage. Cladistics. 39: 548-570. https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12555.</ref>. Soldier beetle larvae tend to be darkly colored and look almost reptilian. Adult soldier beetles grow to about half of an inch long and vary from yellow, to orange, to brown, or to black in color. Some abdominal segments are exposed, as their wings do not entirely cover their body. These [[insects]] are beneficial, as they act as a pollinator species <ref name= "hahn">Hahn, Jeffrey. (2023). Soldier beetles. University of Minnesota Extension. https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/soldier-beetles#:~:text=Soldier%20beetles%20are%20beneficial%20insects&text=Because%20of%20their%20frequent%20contact,go%20away%20on%20their%20own.</ref>. | Soldier beetles (Cantharidae) are the second largest group in the beetle (Coleoptera) superfamily Elateroidea, containing approximatley 5,500 species. These beetles are common throughout the temperate region of the northern hemisphere <ref name= "motyka">Motyka, M., Kusy, D., Biffi, G., Geiser, M., Kazantsev, S.V., Bilkova, R., Jahodarova, E., Vogler, A.P., Bocak, L.. (2023). Untangling the evolution of soldier beetles ([[Coleoptera]]: Cantharidae) and the evaluation of the morphological phylogenetic signal in a soft-bodied elateroid lineage. Cladistics. 39: 548-570. https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12555.</ref>. Soldier beetle larvae tend to be darkly colored and look almost reptilian. Adult soldier beetles grow to about half of an inch long and vary from yellow, to orange, to brown, or to black in color. Some abdominal segments are exposed, as their wings do not entirely cover their body. These [[insects]] are beneficial, as they act as a pollinator species <ref name= "hahn">Hahn, Jeffrey. (2023). Soldier beetles. University of Minnesota Extension. https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/soldier-beetles#:~:text=Soldier%20beetles%20are%20beneficial%20insects&text=Because%20of%20their%20frequent%20contact,go%20away%20on%20their%20own.</ref>. | ||
Currently, 25 species in 16 genera of soldier beetles have been discovered in the fossiliferous resin Burmese amber. The oldest soldier beetle fossil discovered comes from Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber <ref name="esa">Entomology Today. New Soldier Beetle Species Found in 99-million-year-old Amber. Entomological Society of America. https://entomologytoday.org/2016/10/14/new-soldier-beetle-species-found-in-99-million-year-old-amber/.</ref>. | |||
Soldier beetles may be confused with certain species of blister beetles, fireflies, or glowworm beetles <ref name="ucipm">UCIPM. (2025). Soldier Beetles. UCIPM. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/soldier-beetles/#gsc.tab=0.</ref>. | Soldier beetles may be confused with certain species of blister beetles, fireflies, or glowworm beetles <ref name="ucipm">UCIPM. (2025). Soldier Beetles. UCIPM. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/soldier-beetles/#gsc.tab=0.</ref>. | ||
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Soldier beetle eggs are laid from late August to early September. Though soldier beetle life history is not well known, larvae are assumed to predate on small [[invertebrates]] within the [[soil]]. Some soldier beetles are able to produce compounds that help stave off predators, like spiders <ref name= "colorado">Colorado State University. (2017). Soldier Beetle. Western Colorado Insects. https://wci.extension.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2017/03/SoldierBeetles.pdf.</ref>. | Soldier beetle eggs are laid from late August to early September. Though soldier beetle life history is not well known, larvae are assumed to predate on small [[invertebrates]] within the [[soil]]. Some soldier beetles are able to produce compounds that help stave off predators, like spiders <ref name= "colorado">Colorado State University. (2017). Soldier Beetle. Western Colorado Insects. https://wci.extension.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2017/03/SoldierBeetles.pdf.</ref>. | ||
== Common Soldier | == Common Soldier Beetle Genera == | ||
===Cantharis=== | |||
[[File:beetle3.jpg|501px|thumb|center|Rustic Soldier Beetle (''Cantharis rustica'') On a Plant in France (Photographed by dromensis, 2025)]] | |||
''Cantharis'' species are usually gray-brown with a red or orange head and prothorax <ref name= "colorado">Colorado State University. (2017). Soldier Beetle. Western Colorado Insects. https://wci.extension.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2017/03/SoldierBeetles.pdf.</ref>. | |||
===Chauliognathus=== | |||
[[File:beetle4.jpg|501px|thumb|center|Plague Soldier Beetle (''Chauliognathus lugubris'') On a Plant in Australia (Photographed by zichen1, 2025)]] | |||
===Podabrus=== | |||
[[File:beetle6.jpg|501px|thumb|center|Wrinkled Soldier Beetle (''Podabrus rugosulus'') On a Plant in South Carolina, USA (Photographed by xx7trey, 2024)]] | |||
== References == | == References == | ||
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<ref name= "bugguide">BugGuide. (2025). Family Cantharidae - Soldier Beetles. BugGuide. https://bugguide.net/node/view/118/tree.</ref> | <ref name= "bugguide">BugGuide. (2025). Family Cantharidae - Soldier Beetles. BugGuide. https://bugguide.net/node/view/118/tree.</ref> | ||
<ref name="ucipm">UCIPM. (2025). Soldier Beetles. UCIPM. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/soldier-beetles/#gsc.tab=0.</ref> | <ref name="ucipm">UCIPM. (2025). Soldier Beetles. UCIPM. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/soldier-beetles/#gsc.tab=0.</ref> | ||
<ref name="esa">Entomology Today. New Soldier Beetle Species Found in 99-million-year-old Amber. Entomological Society of America. https://entomologytoday.org/2016/10/14/new-soldier-beetle-species-found-in-99-million-year-old-amber/.</ref> | |||
<ref name= "pics">iNaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/.</ref> | <ref name= "pics">iNaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/.</ref> | ||
Revision as of 19:36, 14 April 2025
Description & Overview
Soldier beetles (Cantharidae) are the second largest group in the beetle (Coleoptera) superfamily Elateroidea, containing approximatley 5,500 species. These beetles are common throughout the temperate region of the northern hemisphere [1]. Soldier beetle larvae tend to be darkly colored and look almost reptilian. Adult soldier beetles grow to about half of an inch long and vary from yellow, to orange, to brown, or to black in color. Some abdominal segments are exposed, as their wings do not entirely cover their body. These insects are beneficial, as they act as a pollinator species [2].
Currently, 25 species in 16 genera of soldier beetles have been discovered in the fossiliferous resin Burmese amber. The oldest soldier beetle fossil discovered comes from Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber [3].
Soldier beetles may be confused with certain species of blister beetles, fireflies, or glowworm beetles [4].
 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Phylum | Subphylum | Class | Order | Suborder | Family |
| Animalia | Arthropoda | Hexapoda | Insecta | Coleoptera | Polyphaga | Cantharidae |
Ecology & Evolution
From midsummer to early fall, soldier beetles tend to pollinate yellow flowers of the family Asteraceae. Some adult soldier beetles feed on nectar, pollen, and small arthropods [7]. Other adults may prey on aphids and other soft-bodied insects [4].
Soldier beetle eggs are laid from late August to early September. Though soldier beetle life history is not well known, larvae are assumed to predate on small invertebrates within the soil. Some soldier beetles are able to produce compounds that help stave off predators, like spiders [7].
Common Soldier Beetle Genera
Cantharis
Cantharis species are usually gray-brown with a red or orange head and prothorax [7].
Chauliognathus
Podabrus
References
- ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 Motyka, M., Kusy, D., Biffi, G., Geiser, M., Kazantsev, S.V., Bilkova, R., Jahodarova, E., Vogler, A.P., Bocak, L.. (2023). Untangling the evolution of soldier beetles (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) and the evaluation of the morphological phylogenetic signal in a soft-bodied elateroid lineage. Cladistics. 39: 548-570. https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12555.
- ↑ Jump up to: 2.0 2.1 Hahn, Jeffrey. (2023). Soldier beetles. University of Minnesota Extension. https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/soldier-beetles#:~:text=Soldier%20beetles%20are%20beneficial%20insects&text=Because%20of%20their%20frequent%20contact,go%20away%20on%20their%20own.
- ↑ Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 Entomology Today. New Soldier Beetle Species Found in 99-million-year-old Amber. Entomological Society of America. https://entomologytoday.org/2016/10/14/new-soldier-beetle-species-found-in-99-million-year-old-amber/.
- ↑ Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 4.2 UCIPM. (2025). Soldier Beetles. UCIPM. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/soldier-beetles/#gsc.tab=0.
- ↑ Jump up to: 5.0 5.1 BugGuide. (2025). Family Cantharidae - Soldier Beetles. BugGuide. https://bugguide.net/node/view/118/tree.
- ↑ Jump up to: 6.0 6.1 iNaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/.
- ↑ Jump up to: 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Colorado State University. (2017). Soldier Beetle. Western Colorado Insects. https://wci.extension.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2017/03/SoldierBeetles.pdf.