Habitat
Adults: terrestrial
Immatures: terrestrial

Feeding Habits
Adults:

Immatures: predaceous

North American
Species: 468

Coleoptera Cantharidae
Soldier beetles

Special Characteristics: Cantharidae are elongated and soft-bodied beetles. The elytra are often yellow, orange or red and covered with short hairs. The head is visible from above, unlike some similar families.

Comments: The adults feed on nectar and pollen or on other insects, such as aphids. Most larvae are predaceous on other insects, mostly soft-bodied insects like caterpillars, and also on insect eggs. A few species are omnivorous and feed on wheat, potatoes, celery and other vegetables.The adults are common on flowers of goldenrod, on basswood, and catalpa tree blooms. They are also common on vegetation along the edges of water bodies.

Species:
Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus DeGeer

Common Name:

Feeding Habits: Adults feed on nectar and the larvae feed on grasshopper eggs and beetles.

Distribution:
Quebec, Ontario.

Comments:
This species is common on goldenrod in late summer. It is about 9 to 12 mm in length.