Cantharidae, or more commonly, Soldier Beetles are all over my flowers lately. They get their common name from a British species of this beetle, which is bright red and reminds people of the red coats of soldiers. The one we have here in abundance is called a “Pennsylvania Leatherwing”, (Chauliognathus pensylvanicus). These orange and black insects are able to fly and have a leathery texture to their skin (click photos below to enlarge), and somewhat resemble lightning bugs in shape and the way they fly. They are very beneficial insects, eating aphids and cucumber beetles and supplementing their diet with nectar and pollen. They are also minor pollinators. Their larvae consumer grasshopper eggs, aphids, and other garden pests.
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Pennsylvania Leatherwing on Gazania flower
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Leatherwing closeup – leathery texture
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I’m glad to know they’re good. They look enough like lightning bugs that I would never kill one. Gorgeous pictures!
When I saw them all over my flowers, I was very glad to read that they are beneficial. They do look like orange lightning bugs.