Insect · GBIF taxon 6067157
Margined Leatherwing Beetle
Chauliognathus marginatusAlso known as Margined Soldier Beetle
Margined leatherwing beetles congregate in conspicuous numbers on open blossoms throughout late spring and early summer, actively grazing on pollen while sipping nectar. Unlike many rigid beetles, their soft, leathery wing covers provide flexibility as they clamber across flower heads in search of food, mates, and small soft-bodied insects. Beneath the soil, their velvety larvae act as vital subterranean predators, hunting down agricultural pests, insect eggs, and grubs.
DiurnalPollinatorBeneficial
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Aphids
- Flower pollen
- Insect eggs
Predators
- Songbirds
- Crab spiders
- Assassin bugs
ThreatsBroad-spectrum pesticide application and intensive landscape mowing.
HabitatsMeadows, open woodlands, old fields, prairies, and cultivated gardens.
Life span1 year (including egg, larval, and pupal stages; adults live several weeks).
Classification
- FamilyCantharidae
- SpeciesChauliognathus marginatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Search Open Blooms: Look closely at white flowering plants such as hydrangeas, fleabane, and elderberry during warm mornings.
- Garden Welcome: Avoid spraying broad-spectrum insecticides, as both adults and larvae provide natural pest control.
Host Plant SAplants / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Wildreturn, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Image unavailableFamily Member
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