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While each of these insects come from different families they can be found in the Coleoptera order of insects and have very similar life cycles. The fascinating soldier beetle is found in the Cantharidae family, while the aptly named longhorn beetle is found in the family of Cerambycidae. Both beetles can easily be observed where ever you find golden rods. This may be in lush meadows of vegetation or even along the side of the road. Both insects feed on the nectar and pollen from the golden rod but while one is considered to be very beneficial, the larva of the other is considered a major pest. These beetles are both beautifully colored. The soldier beetle, depending on the species, will show various patterns of red, black, yellow and brown. The longhorn beetle, again depending on the species, may show color variations from muted browns to yellows, orange and black. This makes distinguishing between these two beetles a difficult chore but with close observation the differences can be discovered.
The longhorn beetle and soldier beetle have a pair of amazingly long antenna that with the soldier beetle appear to be over half as long as its body length and with the longhorn beetle is as long or longer than its body. The body of both beetles is long and thin but while the soldier beetle rarely reaches a length of half an inch, some species of the longhorn beetle reach the incredible length of six inches. Commonly, longhorn beetles are around two inches in length and have a much more intricate pattern of coloration than the soldier beetle. Even though both insects feed on pollen and nectar, as adults they both eat other insects as well. The soldier beetle is quite a predator, feeding on aphids, smaller insect eggs, insect larvae, some caterpillars and other small insects. Their eating habits have made them a very beneficial beetle around most vegetation since plant life is not part of their diet. The long horn beetle feeds on other insects as an adult but its larvae are known to attack plant life, trees and bushes causing them to be considered a pest.
Both beetles spend the winters as larvae before emerging in the early part of spring with the longhorn beetle and the soldier beetle just before summer begins. While the soldier beetle larvae have tunneled into the soil for protection from the cold winter months, the longhorn beetle larvae have tunneled into wood. When the larva of the longhorn beetle are ready for pupation they will return to the surface of the wood leaving small holes that are easily distinguished. Even so, this beetle can take up to three years to be mature enough to reproduce another generation while the soldier beetle reaches sexual maturity within one year. Interestingly, the longhorn beetle and the soldier beetle larvae are both known to enter homes as the weather begins to cool. The soldier beetle larva is harmless and only looking for a warm place to spend the winter. On the other hand, the longhorn beetle larva has been known to bore into wooden areas of the structure causing damage. Some have even been discovered as they emerge from furniture.
When the longhorn beetles and soldier beetles larva have gone through pupation the adults emerge to feed and mate. After fertilization the longhorn beetle females will deposit her eggs in tiny crevices of their chosen food host. In some cases this may only be rotting wood but in most cases it will be a tree or bush. The fertilized soldier beetle female deposits her eggs in tiny clutches under a thin layer of earth. With both beetles the larva hatch and begin feeding before hibernating for the winter. The larva of the soldier beetle will feed on small insects before burrowing in for the winter. The larvae of the longhorn beetle begin feeding immediately when they hatch on the wood of their host before tunneling inside for the colder months.
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