These 115 genera belong to the family Cantharidae, soldier beetles. There are at least 1,300 described species in Cantharidae. [1] [2] [3] [4]
Data sources: i = ITIS, [1] c = Catalogue of Life, [2] g = GBIF, [3] b = Bugguide.net [4]
The soldier beetles (Cantharidae) are relatively soft-bodied, straight-sided beetles. They are cosmopolitan in distribution. One of the first described species has a color pattern reminiscent of the red coats of early British soldiers, hence the common name. They are also known commonly as leatherwings because of their soft elytra.
The Lycidae are a family in the beetle order Coleoptera, members of which are commonly called net-winged beetles. These beetles are cosmopolitan, being found in Nearctic, Palearctic, Neotropical, Afrotropical, Oriental, and Australian ecoregions.
The Photinini are a large tribe of fireflies in the subfamily Lampyrinae. Photinus pyralis is famous in biotechnology for its luciferase gene. This is sometimes employed as a marker gene; genetically modified organisms which contain it start to glow like the firefly when brought in contact with a luciferin-containing medium. Firefly luciferases differ slightly between taxa, resulting in differently colored light and other properties, and in most cases where "firefly luciferase" is used in some application or study, it is the specific luciferase of P. pyralis.
Cantharis is a large genus of soldier beetles in the family Cantharidae with narrow and soft elytra.
Melyridae are a family of beetles of the superfamily Cleroidea.
Hydrochus is the only living genus of beetle in the family Hydrochidae, which belongs to the superfamily Hydrophiloidea, and was formerly treated as a subfamily of Hydrophilidae. Hydrochus includes about 180 species, which are found worldwide. The name "Hydrochus" has also been used for a fly genus in the family Dolichopodidae, but this is a junior subjective synonym of the genus Rhaphium.
Malachius is a genus of soft-winged flower beetles belonging to the family Melyridae subfamily Malachiinae. Malachius species have been reported from Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and in former Yugoslavia.
Cantharinae is a subfamily of beetles in the family Cantharidae. There are at least 200 described species in Cantharinae.
Cantharini is a tribe of soldier beetles in the family Cantharidae. There are more than 40 genera and over 500 described species in Cantharini.
Malachiini is a large tribe of soft-winged flower beetles in the family Melyridae.
Cultellunguis is a genus of soldier beetles in the family Cantharidae. There are about nine described species in Cultellunguis.
Silis is a genus of soldier beetles in the family Cantharidae, found mostly in Europe and the Americas. There are at least 80 described species in Silis.