There are around 40 species of soldier beetle in the UK, but Cantharis rustica is one of the largest and most easily spotted. They're found in a range of habitats including grasslands, parks and gardens, and the edges of woodlands and arable fields. Look out for them climbing over flowers, particularly umbellifers like cow parsley, where they hunt for other insects to predate.
How to identify
A fairly large, black and red beetle. The top of the head is black, as are the antennae - though the first few sections (at least two, often more) are orange. The pronotum (the section of the body behind the head) is bright red, with a dark mark in the centre that often appears heart-shaped. The wing cases are a glossy black. The legs are black with a variable amount of red at the base.
Distribution
Common and widespread in Wales and England, though scarcer in northern England. Patchily distributed in Scotland.
Did you know?
The larvae are also predators, feeding on snails, worms and other invertebrates. They can remain active through the winter, sheltering under logs or in leaf litter when conditions are really cold.
