soldier beetle

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Any beetle of the family Telephoridæ. The Pennsylvania soldier-beetle, Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus, is common in the United States. The beetles live upon pollen, but their larvæ are carnivorous and destroy other insects. The two-lined soldier-beetle. Telephorus bilineatus, is also common in the United States. It preys upon the larvæ of the codling-moth.

Wiktionary

1. n. Any of several beetles, of the family Cantharidae, that are predators of aphids and other insects

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. (Zoöl.) an American carabid beetle (Chauliognathus Americanus) whose larva feeds upon other insects, such as the plum curculio.