Posts Tagged: Cantharidae

Soldiering On

They're curious little critters. When solider beetles (family Cantharidae) go on patrol in your garden, don't kill them. They're not being deployed to harm you.  They're the good guys. They eat aphids and other soft-bodied insects. Sometimes called "leatherwings"--they look like the...

A soldier beetle seeking aphids and other soft-bodied insects on a strawberry plant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A soldier beetle seeking aphids and other soft-bodied insects on a strawberry plant. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Here an aphid, there an aphid...A soldier beetle on patrol. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Here an aphid, there an aphid...A soldier beetle on patrol. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This image shows the soldier beetle's 11-segmented antennae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This image shows the soldier beetle's 11-segmented antennae. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A quick flight to a fence post and then the soldier beetle prepares to leave. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A quick flight to a fence post and then the soldier beetle prepares to leave. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Soldier of Fortune

Gotta love those soldier beetles.They're among the good guys in the garden because they eat aphids and other soft-bodied insects.We've seen them on the lavender, on our nectarine tree and on our plum tree. Last weekend, a single soldier beetle (family Cantharidae) winged its way to our patch of...

Soldier beetle (famiy Cantharidae) perched on rock purslane bud. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Soldier beetle (famiy Cantharidae) perched on rock purslane bud. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Hi, there! Soldier beetle looks around. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Hi, there! Soldier beetle looks around. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

End of the Line

Gotta love those solider beetles (family Cantharidae). When an army of soldier beetles goes on patrol in your garden, just thank them. These "leatherwings" are there to mete out justice to the plant-sucking aphids and other undesirable critters. Aphids are high on their menu preferences. So are...

Soldier beetle (family Cantharidae) runs out of room. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Soldier beetle (family Cantharidae) runs out of room. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Good Soldiers

They're good soldiers, those soldier beetles. Members of the family Cantharidae, they are beneficial insects that eat other insects, especially aphids and caterpillars--but just about any soft-bodied insect will do. If no insects are available, you'll see them dining on nectar and pollen. We saw...

Three's Company

THREE'S COMPANY--Three soldier beetles search for aphids on a rose bush. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Eating an aphid

EATING AN APHID--A soldier beetle dines on an aphid on a rose leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

AphId in Flight

APHID IN FLIGHT--An aphid flies toward a rose bush, unaware that two predators--soldier beetles--lie in wait. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Antennae

ANTENNAE of a soldier beetle. This is a beneficial insect that eats aphids, caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects.(Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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