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 | 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. As adults, soldier beetles grow to about half of an inch long and are yellow, orange, brown, or black in color <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 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>. | Though soldier beetles are sometimes considered pests, they are beneficial, as they are 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 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>. | ||
== Ecology & Evolution == | == 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]] <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>. Other adults may prey on aphids and other soft-bodied insects <ref name="ucipm">UCIPM. (2025). Soldier Beetles. UCIPM. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/soldier-beetles/#gsc.tab=0.</ref>. | 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]] <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>. Other adults may prey on aphids and other soft-bodied insects <ref name="ucipm">UCIPM. (2025). Soldier Beetles. UCIPM. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/soldier-beetles/#gsc.tab=0.</ref>. | ||
Soldier beetle eggs are laid from late August to early September. After winter, beetles emerge and are found moving through leaf litter, plant debris, and other areas of high humidity <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>. 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. After winter, beetles emerge and are found moving through leaf litter, plant debris, and other areas of high humidity <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>. 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>. | ||
Based on molecular dating, the Cantharidae family is thought to have originated 156.3 million years ago <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>. | Based on molecular dating, the Cantharidae family is thought to have originated 156.3 million years ago <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 beetles have been significant in evolutionary studies. Currently, 25 species in 16 genera of soldier beetles have been discovered in fossiliferous amber resin. 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>. | |||
== Common Soldier Beetle Genera == | == Common Soldier Beetle Genera == | ||
Revision as of 18:21, 16 April 2025
Description & Overview
 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Phylum | Subphylum | Class | Order | Suborder | Family |
| Animalia | Arthropoda | Hexapoda | Insecta | Coleoptera | Polyphaga | Cantharidae |
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 [3].
Soldier beetle larvae tend to be darkly colored and look almost reptilian. As adults, soldier beetles grow to about half of an inch long and are yellow, orange, brown, or black in color [4].
Though soldier beetles are sometimes considered pests, they are beneficial, as they are a pollinator species [4]. Soldier beetles may be confused with certain species of blister beetles, fireflies, or glowworm beetles [5].
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 [6]. Other adults may prey on aphids and other soft-bodied insects [5].
Soldier beetle eggs are laid from late August to early September. After winter, beetles emerge and are found moving through leaf litter, plant debris, and other areas of high humidity [4]. 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 [6].
Based on molecular dating, the Cantharidae family is thought to have originated 156.3 million years ago [3].
Soldier beetles have been significant in evolutionary studies. Currently, 25 species in 16 genera of soldier beetles have been discovered in fossiliferous amber resin. The oldest soldier beetle fossil discovered comes from Early Cretaceous Lebanese amber [7].
Common Soldier Beetle Genera
Cantharis
Cantharis species are usually gray-brown with a red or orange head and prothorax [6]. Beetles in this genus are common in grasslands and forb fields [8]. Cantharis species are some of the largest soldier beetles, and can be between 9 to 13 millimeters long. These beetles have a red pronotum (back of head) with a black marking in the center. The top of these beetles' heads, as well as their wing covers, are black [9].
Chauliognathus
Most Chauliognathus species are found in the western United States, Australia, and South America, excepting two species in the state of Virginia. Adults in this genus are medium in size (8 to 15 millimeters long), and they are yellow to orange with black coloration on their forewings and prothorax [10]. Like Cantharis, Chauliognathus species are also commonly found in grasslands and forb fields [8].
Podabrus
Species in the Podabrus genus tend to feed on aphids and soft-bodied insects [11]. The larve of Podabrus genus are thought to reside in organic debris and the upper layers of soil [12]. Podabrus species typically range from 7 to 9 millimeters long. They tend to have leathery, flexible wing covers, and they are usually brownish-black with yellow to red sides and yellow faces [13].
References
[3] [4] [6] [1] [5] [7] [10] [11] [8] [12] [13] [9] [2]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 BugGuide. (2025). Family Cantharidae - Soldier Beetles. BugGuide. https://bugguide.net/node/view/118/tree.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 iNaturalist. https://www.inaturalist.org/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 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.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 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.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 UCIPM. (2025). Soldier Beetles. UCIPM. https://ipm.ucanr.edu/natural-enemies/soldier-beetles/#gsc.tab=0.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Colorado State University. (2017). Soldier Beetle. Western Colorado Insects. https://wci.extension.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2017/03/SoldierBeetles.pdf. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "colorado" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 7.0 7.1 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/.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Pelletier G. & Hebert, C. (2014). The Cantharidae of Eastern Canada and Northeastern United States. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification. https://doi.org/10.3752/cjai.2014.25.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 The Wildlife Trusts. (2025). Soldier beetle. The Wildlife Trusts. https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/beetles/soldier-beetle.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Catron, K.A.. (2021). Biology of Chauliognathus spp. (Hentz) (Coleoptera: Cantharidae) in Virginia agroecosystems. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/f6f5fd1b-f813-4947-a14a-1b06d989fc18/content.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Montana State University. (2022). Podabrus sp. Montana State University. https://www.montana.edu/yellowstoneinsects/coleoptera/cantharidae/podabrus_sp.html#:~:text=Podabrus%20is%20a%20genus%20in,exclusively%20near%20bodies%20of%20water.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Crowley, L., Chua, P., & Kusy, D.. (2023). The genome sequence of a soldier beetle, Podabrus alpinus (Paykull, 1798). PubMed Central. https://doi.org/10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18890.1.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 MinnesotaSeasons.com. (2025). Wrinkled Soldier Beetle. MinnesotaSeasons.com. http://www.minnesotaseasons.com/Insects/wrinkled_soldier_beetle.html#:~:text=Podabrus%20rugosulus%20is%20a%20small,and%20rounded%20at%20the%20tip.