Posts Tagged: soldier beetle

Soldier Beetle Foraging on Aphids

Lady beetles, aka ladybugs, are not the only insects that feed on aphids. So do the soldier beetles, family Cantharidae. They are sometimes known as leatherwings. Got roses? Got aphids? You may also have a good friend, the soldier...

A soldier beetle on a yellow rose. (Cell phone photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A soldier beetle on a yellow rose. (Cell phone photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bug Safari!

They're there.If you walk slowly into your garden or backyard, and observe your surroundings, you'll find them. A jumping spider perched on a rose leaf. A soldier beetle climbing out of a tulip. A syrphid fly, aka flower fly or hover fly, foraging on a...

A jumping spider perched on a rose leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A jumping spider perched on a rose leaf. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A soldier beetle peers at the camera. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A soldier beetle peers at the camera. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A syrphid or flower fly foraging on a poppy blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A syrphid or flower fly foraging on a poppy blossom. (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...

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)

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