Posts Tagged: beneficial insects

The Red Coats Are Coming

The Red Coats are coming. The Red Coats are coming. No, not an army of soldiers. Soldier beetles. These insects (family Cantharida) resemble the uniforms of the British soldiers of the American Revolution, which is apparently how their name originated....

A soldier beetle (family Cantharida) looks out over a milkweed in search of more aphids. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A soldier beetle (family Cantharida) looks out over a milkweed in search of more aphids. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Bugging You at the California State Fair

The Insect Pavilion at the California State Fair, which includes specimens from the Bohart Museum of Entomology at the University of California, Davis, showcases the good, the bad and the bugly. The fair opened Friday, July 13 and continues through...

The California State Fair's Insect Pavilion lauded the Bohart Museum of Entomology for donating insect specimens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The California State Fair's Insect Pavilion lauded the Bohart Museum of Entomology for donating insect specimens. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Everyone liked the beneficial insect, the lady beetle, aka lady bug. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Everyone liked the beneficial insect, the lady beetle, aka lady bug. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This trio checks out the pests displayed below a sign in the Insect Pavilion that cautions: "Beware of hitchhikers." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This trio checks out the pests displayed below a sign in the Insect Pavilion that cautions: "Beware of hitchhikers." (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A youngster points excitedly at a display in the Insect Pavilion. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A youngster points excitedly at a display in the Insect Pavilion. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The wanted visitors at the California State Fair and the unwanted visitors (pests). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The wanted visitors at the California State Fair and the unwanted visitors (pests). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This visitor was fascinated by the displays in the Insect Pavilion. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

This visitor was fascinated by the displays in the Insect Pavilion. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Visitors coming and going in the California State Fair's Insect Pavilion. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Visitors coming and going in the California State Fair's Insect Pavilion. (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...

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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