Soldier Beetles: A Comprehensive Guide

Soldier Beetles: A Comprehensive Guide

Gather 'round, garden lovers. If you've taken a trip outdoors lately, you may have noticed some soldier beetles buzzing around. They are like little platoons of troops circling our busy green parks, when life starts to warm up. Soldier beetles are usually festively colored: red, yellow or orange with sharp black markings, but they are more than just good looks--they also work hard for our gardens. They do a number of pests!

Meet the Soldier Beetles

Members of the Cantharidae family of insects, these busy little beetles are everywhere. Whenever nature warms them up a bit, they flit around gardens and parks stopping only at flowering plants to sip nectar and pollen. From spring to autumn you can see them most places, adding a splash of color to society.

Finding Soldier Beetles

These little friends of ours are easy to pick out. Look for their elongated bodies covered with smooth wings that are usually bright-colored. They're always about during the daytime, so next time you're near some flowers, look around!

Keeping Things in Balance

Although soldier beetles are really helpful friends, sometimes their gatherings get a little too big. Here are some basic principles for keeping the numbers of soldier beetles just right in your garden:

Tidy Up: Cut back some plants that are flowering and clear away debris from them but never totally stripping off their means of carrying on life.

Handpick or Vacuum: In large numbers, execution may be seen as wrong to find places from which they cannot return before violating the garden beds with their insect fingers.

Barrier Methods: Cover your cherished plants with a net or row covers.

Natural Helpers: Birds and other predator insects like parasitic wasps are the natural controls of beetle populations when you make your garden more welcoming to these creatures.

DIY Traps: Place a simple trap with soapy water or a mixture of water and some vegetable oil near the plants being troubled by these beetles, and then sit back.

Soldier beetles are doing a lot to help our gardens out, but it's all about balance. By following these tips you can manage their numbers and keep your garden lively.

Need More Help?

Ark Termite Treatment The Vines offers all pest control services in The Vines and surroundings. Feel free to contact us at (08) 6186 7468 or visit our website:

https://arktermitetreatment.com.au/