Biology:Cantharis rustica

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Short description: Species of soldier beetle

Cantharis rustica
Cantharis rustica-o.jpg
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Cantharidae
Genus: Cantharis
Species:
C. rustica
Binomial name
Cantharis rustica
Fallén

Cantharis rustica, the rustic sailor beetle, is a species of soldier beetle found in Europe east to central Russia.[1]

Description

C. rustica has black wing cases, which are protective covers for its wings. Its legs have a blackish color, and there is a heart-shaped spot on the pronotum. These features are unique for the species and can help identify this particular beetle. [2] In central Europe, the adult beetles appear between May and July. Larvae are active from late summer until early spring and in March and April they pupate.[1]

C. rustica feeds on a wide range of species, including Sialis lutaria, Malachius bipustulatus, Adalia bipunctata, Phyllobius, Tenthredopsis litterata, Tenthredopsis nassata, Arge gracilicornis, Empis livida, Bibio marci and Scatophaga stercoraria.[2]

Distribution

According to GBIF records, Cantharis rustica occurs in Europe from as north as Scandinavia to the shores of the Mediterranean and from the Atlantic Ocean to central Russia .[3]

Habitat

This beetle species has a preference for arable land,[1] lowland grassland habitats, but also occurs in woodland and other habitats with tall grass. Adults can be found on vegetation and flower heads from mid-May till the end of June [2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Traugott, M. (2006). Habitat use and activity patterns of larval and adult Cantharis beetles in arable land. European journal of soil biology, 42(2), 82-88. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejsobi.2005.10.001)
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2  , Wikidata Q118571529
  3. Cantharis rustica Fallén, 1807 in GBIF Secretariat (2019). GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/39omei accessed via GBIF.org on 2020-06-13.

Wikidata ☰ Q839689 entry