Soldier beetle

[Walwyn]

Is this Cantharis decipiens? Photographed in Ufton Fields on 24/06/2010.

[Lindsay-c]

Certainly looks like one but not sure about the tip off the end being black and the golden hugh on its pronotum and there are many soldier beetles like this which have very similar looking relatives to it so it's difficult to tell which one it could be...

This link may help you

- Soldier Beetle

[tristanba]

I think so - can just see the head is yellow in front of the eyes (black in the smaller Rhagonycha testacea)

[Walwyn]

Thanks I'll have a look.

[Walwyn]

Thanks Tristan, I do have another shot where the yellow is a bit more pronounced too.

[Walwyn]

Update: according to Steve Lane this is almost certainly Rhagonycha testacea based on yellow femora, and extensive black on thorax but with wide yellow lateral margins.

[tristanba]

the black area on the pronotum does extend to the apical and basal margins, which is consistent with R. testacea and would seem to rule out C. decipens. Interesting that the head is so pale in front of the eyes, this should be entirely black in R. testacea. However I am just working from keys and don't have great field experience with Cantharids

[Klaas Reißmann]

The habit of the pronotum makes it genus Rhagonycha and everything fits to Rhagonycha testacea. Completely yellow legs, the black marks on the pronotum, colouration of the antennae getting dark to the top. the yellow on the head seems only to be the labrum, so that is ok, too. In my mind Steve Lane is absolutely right.

Regards
Klaas