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
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© Tony Gunton
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© Robert Welham