The Common red soldier beetle, (Rhagonycha fulva), is a beetle in the family of Soldier beetles (Cantharidae).
There are multiple species that are hard to distinguish. The Common red soldier is the most common one.
The common red soldier beetle will grow up to a centimetre. Nearly all their body is coloured red yellowish. Only the last bit of the elytra is black. The body is flat and elongated. The chitin armour is very soft, resulting in the German name of this species as Weichkäfer (meaning "soft beetle"). The black thread-like antennae are also relatively long. The equally long legs have an orange colour, which become notably darker only at the end.
This beetle is very common in Europe and Anatolia. These beetles are active during the daylight hours, when they will hunt mostly for small insects on top of flowers.
