About Cantharis fusca Linnaeus, 1758
Cantharis fusca, commonly called the dark soldier beetle, is a species of soldier beetle. Adult individuals of Cantharis fusca grow to a length between 10 and 15 millimetres, which equals 0.39 to 0.59 inches. The species is entirely black apart from sections of the head and thorax, which are red or orange. Its body is elongated and flat, with a soft, weak exoskeleton. This beetle has long feathery antennae and relatively long legs. Cantharis fusca is common across much of Europe, and inhabits bushes, forest edges, and meadows. Adult Cantharis fusca hunt small insects. The larvae of this species are covered in black hairs, and they also feed on small insects. The larvae are highly cold-resistant, and may be observed crawling on snow during winter.
