# Margined Leatherwing Beetle (*chauliognathus marginatus*) The Margined Leatherwing Beetle is a bright yellow insect with striking black edges. It loves to bask in the sun and can often be seen on flowers during the summer! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Snaps:** 104 - **Habitat:** Gardens, fields, and meadows - **Also known as:** Golden Leatherwing, Leatherwing Beetle, Yellow Margined Beetle ![Margined Leatherwing Beetle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Margined_Leatherwing_-_Chauliognathus_marginatus%252C_Julie_Metz_Wetlands%252C_Woodbridge%252C_Virginia%252C_May_19%252C_2023_%2853237142239%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Margined_Leatherwing_-_Chauliognathus_marginatus%252C_Julie_Metz_Wetlands%252C_Woodbridge%252C_Virginia%252C_May_19%252C_2023_%2853237142239%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Margined Leatherwing Beetle has an elongated, soft body, typically orange or yellow, with prominent black margins on its wing covers (elytra). Its head and antennae are also black, contrasting with its bright body. This coloration helps distinguish it from other beetles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Cantharidae - **Genus:** Chauliognathus ## Interesting facts - Adult beetles often gather in large numbers on flowers! - Their long, thread-like antennae help them find mates! - They belong to a group of beetles often called "soldier beetles"! - Unlike many beetles, their wing covers are soft, not hard! ## Special abilities - **Stinky Shield:** Margined Leatherwing Beetle can secrete foul-tasting chemicals that make them unappetizing to predators, helping them avoid being eaten. - **Flower Friend:** Margined Leatherwing Beetle has a diet of nectar and pollen, which helps them transfer pollen between flowers, aiding plant reproduction. - **Pest Patrol Larva:** Margined Leatherwing Beetle larvae are voracious predators that can hunt and consume soft-bodied insect pests like aphids in gardens and fields. ## Measurements & details - **Size:** 8-11 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-28 days - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip nectar and pollen from flowers, while their larvae are tiny garden heroes eating pests! - **Age differences:** Adults primarily consume nectar and pollen, while their larvae are active predators of soft-bodied insects and insect eggs. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, pollen, aphids, small insects, insect eggs - **Foraging Method:** Null ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Canada Goldenrod](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canada-goldenrod) (*Solidago canadensis*) — Adults feed on its pollen and nectar. - **Hunts:** Cotton Aphid (*Aphis gossypii*) — Larvae prey on these soft-bodied garden pests. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — This common bird can prey on adult beetles. - **Pollinates:** [Common Milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) — Adults gather pollen and nectar from its flowers. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Margined Leatherwing Beetle? Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How big is Margined Leatherwing Beetle? 8-11 mm ### How long does Margined Leatherwing Beetle live? 14-28 days ### What does Margined Leatherwing Beetle eat? Adults sip nectar and pollen from flowers, while their larvae are tiny garden heroes eating pests! ### Where is Margined Leatherwing Beetle usually found? Gardens, fields, and meadows ### How does Margined Leatherwing Beetle hunt? Null ### How many legs does Margined Leatherwing Beetle have? 6 ## Where to spot - [Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albemarle-and-chesapeake-canal) — Virginia, US · Historic Site - [Arden Park–East Boston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arden-park-east-boston-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Batesville East Main Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/batesville-east-main-historic-district) — Arkansas, US · Historic District - [Battle Creek Cypress Swamp Sanctuary](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/battle-creek-cypress-swamp-sanctuary) — Maryland, US · Nature Reserve - [Camp Misty Mount Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-misty-mount-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Chanticleer Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chanticleer-garden) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Margined Leatherwing Beetle](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/margined-leatherwing-beetle) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Margined Leatherwing Beetle: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/margined-leatherwing-beetle)