Soldier Beetles - good or bad?
Soldier beetles are making an appearance right now. While there are many different species, the one I have been getting questions about is the Goldenrod Leatherwing. They are brightly colored, orange and black beetles, very noticable and fairly large (about 1/2 an inch). They are also being noticed on flowers and in veggie gardens, much ot the shagrin of many gardeners.
While I haven't seen many of these in the past several years, they are not an uncommon or rare beetle. But, they sure seem to be having a little population explosion right now.
Soldier beetles are considered beneficial insects. Goldenrod leatherwings are both predatory and pollinators. They feed on small bodied insects, like aphids, maybe a whitefly or two, and others of the like. They are also known to feed on pollen and nectar, so they play a role in pollination. If you ask me, you couldn't find an insect with better qualities!
 |
| Photo by Dr. Jerry Parsons |
While I haven't seen many of these in the past several years, they are not an uncommon or rare beetle. But, they sure seem to be having a little population explosion right now.
Soldier beetles are considered beneficial insects. Goldenrod leatherwings are both predatory and pollinators. They feed on small bodied insects, like aphids, maybe a whitefly or two, and others of the like. They are also known to feed on pollen and nectar, so they play a role in pollination. If you ask me, you couldn't find an insect with better qualities!
Comments