| Cantharis
lateralis is just one of several similarly coloured
beetles that belong to the Cantharidae group,
more commonly known as Soldier Beetles. Although C.
lateralis is coloured similarly to several other
species, it is much smaller at around 10-12mm in length.
There are about 40 UK species and they are frequent
visitors to thistles and umbelliferous flowers, where
they probably prey on other flower-feeding insects. The
one pictured, was found on Umbellifer flowers near Market
Warsop at the end of June 2008. |
