Goldenrod Soldier Beetle
Chauliognathus pensylvanicus
Earlier, a Painted Lady butterfly was posing on the butterfly bush, but when I had the camera, it was gone and this beetle that I had never seen before was there. I found out that they are beneficial insects in that the larvae feed on aphids, maggots and small caterpillars and adults are minor pollinators as they feed on nectar. Disappointed I missed the Painted Lady, but happy to have found out about this garden insect:-)
"These conspicuous beetles are often used as research subjects by scientists studying mating behavior, color polymorphism, dispersal, and genetics. This common and widespread species is found over much of eastern North America, ranging from southeastern Canada south to Florida, west to Colorado and Texas" arthurevans.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/beetles-of-eastern-n...
Goldenrod Soldier Beetle
Chauliognathus pensylvanicus
Earlier, a Painted Lady butterfly was posing on the butterfly bush, but when I had the camera, it was gone and this beetle that I had never seen before was there. I found out that they are beneficial insects in that the larvae feed on aphids, maggots and small caterpillars and adults are minor pollinators as they feed on nectar. Disappointed I missed the Painted Lady, but happy to have found out about this garden insect:-)
"These conspicuous beetles are often used as research subjects by scientists studying mating behavior, color polymorphism, dispersal, and genetics. This common and widespread species is found over much of eastern North America, ranging from southeastern Canada south to Florida, west to Colorado and Texas" arthurevans.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/beetles-of-eastern-n...