Family Cantharidae (Soldier Beetles)

Cantharidae are relatively soft-bodied, straight-sided beetles. They are cosmopolitan distribution. Their family namesake was due to the first described species having a color pattern reminiscent of the red coats of early British soldiers, hence the common name. They are also known commonly as leatherwings because of their soft elytra.

Historically, these beetles were placed in a superfamily “Cantharoidea”, which has been subsumed by the superfamily Elateroidea, which is sometimes still used as a rankless grouping, to include including the families Cantharidae, Lampyridae, Lycidae, Omethidae, Phengodidae, and Rhagophthalmidae.

Soldier beetles often feed on both nectar and pollen, but also predate small insects. The larvae are often active, velvety, often brightly colored, and they feed on the ground, hunting snails and other small creatures.

Source: Wikipedia

Subfamily Cantharinae

Tribe Cantharini

Subfamily Chauliognathinae

Tribe Ichtyurini

Unidentified Cantharidae