Soldier Beetles – Canthaeidae

Soldier Beetle

 

Family: Cantharidae (Has five subfamilies)

Common Name: Soldier Beetle, Leatherwings

Appearance: Soldier beetles are called so due to the color resemblance of one of their firstly described species with early red coats of British soldiers. Adults are 5-15 mm long with yellow to red-colored bodies covered with brown or black wings. They have a blackhead, black legs and a black spot on the thorax, and a black oval spot on each wing cover. They look like fireflies but lack light-producing organs.

Host Plants or Food: Aphids, Caterpillars, snails, slugs, mealybugs, and other soft-bodied insects.

Territory: 468 species of soldier beetle are found in North America. It is also found in south-eastern Australia and south-western Australia.

Mode of Damage: Beneficial Garden Insect

Habits and Life History:

• Soldier beetles interact with flowers very much, therefore, act as beneficial pollinating agents.
• Soldier beetles spend their winter as larvae and can live up to 1-3 years. They become active during winter and live in plant debris, leaf litter, loose soil, and other areas where high humidity and prey are present.
• They have a life cycle consisting of 4 stages: egg to larva to pupa to adult.
• Female lays eggs in leaf litter or on the soil surface, which hatch in almost a week.
• Larvae are dark brown or dark yellow colored with elongated cylindrical bodies and resemble tiny alligators. They can grow up to 18 mm, after which pupation occurs.
• Soldier beetles produce 1-2 generations per year.