Best time to see: May to early Aug

Key facts

Soldier beetles are brightly coloured little insects often seen on the flat flowerheads of plants such as hogweed in summer

Their bright colours are a warning to birds that they are distasteful

This is the commonest species, abundant in meadows, woodland clearings and rides, and along roadside verges

Recognition

Red wing-cases with a black tip, resembling a military uniform; black antennae and legs; length 7–10mm

Often seen in large numbers on the flowerheads of umbellifers, feeding on nectar and pollen

Lifecycle

Females mate on flowerheads in early summer and lay their eggs in the soil

Through the autumn and winter, larvae feed on small invertebrates in the soil and leaf litter, such as springtails

A pupa forms in spring, emerging as an adult beetle from May onwards