Common red soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva)

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Photo by valentinezza

Published on Project Noah

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Field Notes

Description:

The common red soldier beetle will grow up to a centimetre. Nearly all their body is coloured red yellowish. Only the last bit of the elytra is black. The body is flat and elongated. The chitin armour is very soft, resulting in the German name of this species as Weichkäfer (meaning "soft beetle"). The black thread-like antennae are also relatively long. The equally long legs have an orange colour, which become notably darker only at the end.

Habitat:

This beetle is very common in Europe and Anatolia. Introduced to North America, it is well-established in British Columbia and Quebec and recently recorded in Ontario.[3] One will find it very often in bushes or on grass and fields.

Reference Links:

Common red soldier beetle

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