If the goldenrod, zinnias or other flowers around your River Edge home are suddenly covered with slender orange beetles marked with black, you're probably looking at soldier beetles. They can show up in big numbers in late summer, crawling over flower heads and mating in pairs. That many beetles in one spot can look like trouble. In most cases, though, soldier beetles are good news. They're pollinators and predators of small garden pests. Below, we'll cover how to identify soldier beetles, how to tell them from lookalikes, whether they're a problem and what to do if they wander inside. If you're seeing insects you can't put a name to, our pest inspection services can help.
What Soldier Beetles Are
Soldier beetles are a family of beetles that are close relatives of fireflies. They get their name from the bright colors of some species, which reminded people of old military uniforms. They're also called leatherwings because their wing covers are soft and flexible, not hard and shiny like most beetles.
- Shape. Long, narrow and somewhat flat, with parallel sides.
- Size. Usually about half an inch long, give or take.
- Color. Many are yellow or orange with black markings. Others are dark brown, gray or black.
- Wing covers. Soft and leathery, often looking slightly velvety.
The goldenrod soldier beetle is a familiar species in the eastern United States. It's yellow-orange with a black spot on each wing cover and is often seen on goldenrod and other late-summer flowers.
What Soldier Beetles Do
Adult soldier beetles visit flowers to feed on pollen and nectar. As they move from bloom to bloom, they carry pollen with them, so they help pollinate plants. Many adults also eat small, soft-bodied insects like aphids, along with insect eggs and small larvae.
The larvae live on the ground, in soil, leaf litter and under debris. They're predators too, feeding on insect eggs, small larvae and other soft-bodied creatures. Soldier beetles spend the winter as larvae in the soil or leaf litter, then become adults the following year.
How To Tell Them Apart From Lookalikes
- Fireflies. A firefly's head is hidden under a shield-like plate when viewed from above, and many have light-producing segments at the tip of the abdomen. A soldier beetle's head sticks out in front.
- Blister beetles. These are also slender and soft-bodied, but they have a narrow neck behind the head and can cause skin blisters if crushed. Don't handle a slender beetle bare-handed until you're sure what it is.
- Lady beetles. Lady beetles are round and dome-shaped with hard wing covers. Soldier beetles are long and flat.
- Boxelder bugs. These are true bugs, black with red-orange markings and a flat, more oval shape. They gather on sunny walls in fall and try to get inside.
If the orange insects you're finding are clustering on siding and windows in the fall, rather than on flowers, they may be boxelder bugs or lady beetles instead. For other beetles that turn up around the yard and sometimes inside, our guide on click beetles vs. darkling beetles is a helpful next read.
Are Soldier Beetles A Problem?
For most homes, no. Soldier beetles:
- Don't bite or sting people or pets.
- Don't carry disease.
- Don't do meaningful damage to plants. They feed mostly on pollen and nectar.
- Don't eat wood, fabric or stored food.
- Don't breed inside homes.
Many gardeners welcome them, because they help with pollination and eat pests like aphids. Large groups on flowers usually last a few weeks and then fade as the season moves on.
A few soldier beetles may wander indoors, especially in late summer and fall. Some may give off a defensive fluid if handled, but they're not harmful. They're just looking for shelter or following light, and they can't survive long inside.
What To Do If They Get Inside
- Sweep or vacuum them up. Release them outside or dispose of them. There's no need for sprays indoors.
- Check screens. Repair torn window and door screens.
- Seal gaps. Caulk cracks around windows, doors and trim, and install door sweeps.
- Adjust lighting. Turn off outdoor lights you don't need and use warm-colored bulbs near entrances.
- Leave them in the garden. Outdoors, they're doing useful work. Avoid broad insecticide sprays that kill beneficial insects along with pests.
When To Call A Professional
Soldier beetles rarely need professional help. But if you're seeing large numbers of insects indoors, or you aren't sure whether you're dealing with soldier beetles, boxelder bugs, lady beetles or something else, it's worth having a look. Our NJ DEP-licensed technicians can inspect your home, identify what you're finding, seal entry points and recommend a plan using Integrated Pest Management and EPA-registered, eco-safe products.
Soldier beetles are one of the friendlier insects you'll find in the yard. Letting them do their work on your flowers is usually the best approach at your River Edge home.