| Common Red Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva (Scopoli, 1763)) |
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Scientific name: Rhagonycha fulva (Scopoli, 1763) Common name: Common Red Soldier Beetle French name: Téléphore fauve, Cantharide fauve Order: Coleoptera Family: Cantharidae Wingspan : 7 to 10 mm. Biotope: Woodland edges, parks and gardens, meadows. Geographic area: Eurasia, introduced to North America. Observation period : June to August. |
The Common red Soldier Beetle is an orange colour. The antennae, the eyes and the tip of the elytra are black. Adults feed on pollen and small insects. You can see many of them mating on Umbelliferae flowers in summer. The female lays the eggs on the ground. The larvae are hairy and feed on snails, slugs and small insects. The larvae over winter under stones or under dead leaves. |
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Common Red Soldier Beetle during its meal on Umbelliferae flowers. |
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Mating seems to be the main activity for adult Common Red Soldier Beetle. |
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The Common Red Soldier Beetles which climb upwards grass stems can make interesting photo subjects. |
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You just need to turn around the grass stem to try to find interesting angles of view. |
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Madam is supporting all the weight of the pair! |
André Bon April 2013