Which beetle family is known as soldier beetles?

Which beetle family is known as soldier beetles?

• A. Lycidae
• B. Cleridae
• C. Coccinellidae
• D. Cantharidae

Answer: (D)

Soldier beetles refer to a specific beetle family known for their soft, slender bodies and often warm colors like yellow, orange, or red. This group, Cantharidae, is the one commonly called soldier beetles, and they’re frequently seen on flowers where adults feed on nectar and pollen while larvae are predators of other small arthropods. The name is not applied to the other families: net-winged beetles (Lycidae) look similar in color but have a net-like texture on their wing covers; checkered beetles (Cleridae) usually show bold checker patterns and a sturdier look; lady beetles (Coccinellidae) are small, dome-shaped, and have short antennae. So the family Cantharidae is the one associated with the common name soldier beetles.

Soldier beetles refer to a specific beetle family known for their soft, slender bodies and often warm colors like yellow, orange, or red. This group, Cantharidae, is the one commonly called soldier beetles, and they’re frequently seen on flowers where adults feed on nectar and pollen while larvae are predators of other small arthropods. The name is not applied to the other families: net-winged beetles (Lycidae) look similar in color but have a net-like texture on their wing covers; checkered beetles (Cleridae) usually show bold checker patterns and a sturdier look; lady beetles (Coccinellidae) are small, dome-shaped, and have short antennae. So the family Cantharidae is the one associated with the common name soldier beetles.