The Red Soldier Beetle, Rhagonycha fulva is a very distinctive beetle and one that you are probably familiar with seeing in your garden, meadows or woodlands. Best defined by its bright red hue and long-tail configuration, was one of the first to come into our frame. Don’t let its look scare you, however; the monster worm is a harmless critter that contributes good to ecosystems.
A Beneficial Insect
While the adults and larvae are known to be predators on a range of pests, including aphids, caterpillars and other soft-bodied insects in their own right RSB have worse implication. They serve as natural insect control, able to cut down the use of chemical pesticides in some cases.
A Colorful Life Cycle
The red soldier beetle enjoy a relatively uncomplicated life cycle. Adult beetles usually come out in early summer. Birds eat pollen and nectar, pollinating them. Female leaves eggs in soil or decaying plant matter. The slender worm-like larvae are predators of egg and larval stages on different insects fragments. A few weeks later those larvae pupate and produce full adult beetles.
A Harmless Beauty
Despite this imposing appearance the Red Soldier Beetle is harmless to humans. The red body color warns predators that the crab may not taste so good (possibly toxic) Sort of, but otherwise the beetle is harmless.
Getting Red Soldier Beetles In Your Garden
To attract Red Soldier Beetles to your garden您可以 ：
Grow plant nectar-producing flowers like cosmos, yarrow & fennel – These can attract them.
Do not spray with pesticides: Pesticides can harm the beneficial insects just as much appealed ladybugs.
Bring them somewhere to hang: Save some dead wood or leaf litter around, as they love these little sheltersPostalCodes
Now that you have been introduced to the Red Soldier Beetle make sure if you see it in your garden give them a warm welcome and create an even healthier ecosystem.