Custom Search Search in Insectoid.Info Search with Pixel-Partisan Search with Google Insects Beetles Soldier beetles  Cantharis fusca  Cantharis obscura  Cantharis rufa  Common red soldier beetle  Rhagonycha elongata  Ants  Arachnids  Bees  Beetles  Booklice - Barkflies  Bugs  Bumblebees  Cicadas  Crane flies  Dragonflies  Earwigs  Flies  Isopods  Locusts  Mosquitoes  Moths & Butterflies  Net-winged insects  Plant-parasitic Hemipterans  Praying Mantises  Wasps Photography with cameras Nikon D3x, Nikon D300, Canon 50D Image editing with Photoshop Beetle - common red soldier beetle - side face Soldier beetles The soldier beetles (Cantharidae; synonym Chauliognathidae), also known as leatherwings, are a family in the order beetles (Coleoptera), the suborder Polyphaga and the superfamily Elateroidea. From the 4000 species which are found worldwide, around 100 are common in Central Europe. Some examples of species worldwide are : common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva), Rhagonycha lignosa, Cantharis fusca, Cantharis nigricans, Cantharis rustica, Cantharis livida, Cantharis rufa, Cantharis obscura, Malthinus biguttatus, Malthodes maurus and Malthinus flaveolus. Common red soldier beetle banishing a wasp from a thistle Adult soldier beetles reach body lengths of 1. 2 - 28 mm. Their bodies are long and mostly flat. Most species are strongly coloured with fine hair. The entire abdomen is covered by the wing covers (elytra ). Soldier beetles have long, slender legs. Soldier beetle - Cantaris Obscura Soldier beetles live in forests, fields, meadows and gardens, where they can be found on blossoms or leaves, often in groups. They are diurnal and feed on insects or parts of plants. The larvae of soldier beetles have long, soft bodies, which are often a velvety dark colour. They live on and in the soil and feed on small insects, snails, worms, or parts of plants (young shoots or pollen). Soldier beetle larvae overwinter under rocks, leaves, moss or bark. On sunny winter days they can be observed crawling in the snow (snow worms). Further chapters of "soldier beetles" - common red soldier beetle - Cantharis fusca - Rhagonycha elongata - Cantharis rufa - Cantharis obscura Description of images / photos Photography with Cameras Nikon D3x, Nikon D300, Canon 50D Image editing with Photoshop 1.  Beetle - common red soldier beetle - side face 2.  Common red soldier beetle banishing a wasp from a thistle 3.  Soldier beetle - Cantaris Obscura Quick search: Cantharis - Beetle - Species - Europe - Larva - Soldier Beetles - Larvae - European - Adult - Gallery - Common - Red - Insects Keywords a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z  Weichkäfer  Contact  Copyrights  Imprint  New pictures  Unknown insects  Unknown spiders Frequent Queries: Soldier beetles (1) cantharis obscura larvae and adult (1) inf ce continne pic cantaris (1) cantharidae (1) cantharidae europe gallery (1) cantaris obscura (1) beetle larva pics images cantharis species soldier beetle uk (1)