Ancistronycha erichsonii
Ancistronycha erichsonii, commonly called the black-tailed soldier beetle, is a species of soldier beetle, in the family Cantharidae, that occurs predominantly in Europe and partially in Asia.
Description
The head of the beetle is of reddish-orange colour and it is almost as wide as its pronotum. The pronotum is of the same colour. Elytra are of yellow-ochre to yellow-brown colour with black spots on their tips. Hind feet are relatively massive and broad. The body length of this species ranges from.
Distribution
This species occurs in France, Belgium, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia and Türkiye.
Habitat
This is a submontane to montane species, it can be found in forest edges, clearings and meadows.
Life history
As all beetles, A. erichsonii is holometabolous. Adults can be found from May to August with their highest activity being in July. The adults feed on pollen and small insects.
Subspecies
Ancistronycha erichsonii haves two subspecies. It is nominotypical subspecies Ancistronycha erichsonii erichsonii and the subspecies Ancistronycha erichsonii kurbatovi. The former occurs in most of this species' range while the latter occurs only in Russia and Georgia.