Soldier beetle

Soldier beetle
	Chauliognathus lugubris
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Suborder:	Polyphaga
Infraorder:	Elateriformia
Superfamily:	Elateroidea
Family:	Cantharidae; Imhoff, 1856
Synonyms
	Chauliognathidae

The soldier beetles (Cantharidae) are relatively soft-bodied, straight-sided beetles. They are cosmopolitan in distribution. One of the first described species has a color pattern reminiscent of the red coats of early British soldiers, hence the common name. They are also known commonly as leatherwings because of their soft elytra.^[1]

Historically, these beetles were placed in a superfamily "Cantharoidea", which has been subsumed by the superfamily Elateroidea; the name is still sometimes used as a rankless grouping, including the families Cantharidae, Drilidae, Lampyridae, Lycidae, Omalisidae, Omethidae (which includes Telegeusidae), Phengodidae, and Rhagophthalmidae.

Subfamilies, tribes and selected genera

Five subfamilies are normally accepted:

Cantharinae

tribe Cantharini
- Cantharis
- Rhagonycha
tribe Podabrini
- Podabrus

Chauliognathinae

tribe Chauliognathini
- Belotus
- Chauliognathus
tribe Ichtyurini
- Trypherus

Dysmorphocerinae

Afronycha Wittmer, 1949 - central-southern Africa
Asilis Broun, 1893 - New Zealand
Compsonycha
Dysmorphocerus Solier, 1849
Flabelloontelus
Geigyella Wittmer, 1972 - New Guinea
Hansasilis
Heteromastix Boheman, 1858 - Australia
Hyponotum
Micronotum
Neoontelus Wittmer, 1972 - New Zealand
Oontelus Solier, 1849 - S. America
Plectocephalon
Plectonotum Gorham, 1891 - Americas

Malthininae

tribe Malchinini
- Macrocerus Motschulsky, 1845 - Europe (synonym Malchinus)
tribe Malthinini
- Caccodes Sharp, 1885 - central America, Pacific islands
- Malthinellus Kiesenwetter, 1874 - Japan
- Malthinus Latreille, 1805 - Japan, Europe, N. America
tribe Malthodini
- Frostia Bert. ex Guill.
- Malthodes Kiesenwetter, 1852 - mostly Europe, N. America & New Zealand

Silinae

tribe Silini
- Cordylocera Guérin-Méneville, 1830
- Silis Charpentier, 1825
tribe Tytthonyxini
- Tytthonyx LeConte, 1851

Reproduction

Soldier beetle filmed in Hesse, Germany

Large males of the soldier beetle exercise choice for larger females. Body size correlates with the abilities of males to secure females, and of females to evade males.^[2]

References

^ Phillips, C., et al. Leatherwing (Soldier) Beetles. Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University. 2013.
^ McLain, Denson K.; Pratt, Ann E.; Shure, Donald J. (June 2015). "Size dependence of courtship effort may promote male choice and strong assortative mating in soldier beetles". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 69 (6): 883–894. doi:10.1007/s00265-015-1900-6. ISSN 0340-5443.

External links

Delta key
Keys for the identification of British Cantharidae
Media related to Cantharidae at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Cantharidae at Wikispecies

[1] Phillips, C., et al. Leatherwing (Soldier) Beetles. Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech and Virginia State University. 2013.

[2] McLain, Denson K.; Pratt, Ann E.; Shure, Donald J. (June 2015). "Size dependence of courtship effort may promote male choice and strong assortative mating in soldier beetles". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. 69 (6): 883–894. doi:10.1007/s00265-015-1900-6. ISSN 0340-5443.

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