Cantharis rustica, the rustic sailor beetle, is a species of soldier beetle found from Europe to Central Russia.
| Cantharis rustica | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Cantharidae |
| Genus: | Cantharis |
| Species: | C. rustica
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| Binomial name | |
| Cantharis rustica | |
Description edit
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.[1]
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.[2]
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.[1]
Distribution edit
According to GBIF records, Cantharis rustica occurs in Europe from as north as Scandinavia to the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and from the Atlantic Ocean to Central Russia.[3]
Habitat edit
This beetle species has a preference for arable land,[2] lowland grassland habitats, but it 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.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c Sivell O; Sivell D (26 November 2021). "The genome sequence of a soldier beetle, Cantharis rustica Fallén 1807". Wellcome Open Research. doi:10.12688/WELLCOMEOPENRES.17363.1. ISSN 2398-502X. Wikidata Q118571529.
- ^ a b 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)
- ^ 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.