These bugs sort of look like lightning bugs, but they are yellow. They are all over my sunflowers. I always grow sunflowers and have never seen these.
CLOSED: Yellow Lightning Bugs??
These are leather-winged beetles (also known as soldier beetles - Coleoptera: Cantharidae); likely Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus - see http://tinyurl.com/lfwrkx for an image.
Are they good or bad for your garden?
These seem to fall on the 'good' side; soldier beetle larvae are predaceous, and the adults appear to do little if any damage, seemingly more interested in the pollen than anything else - see http://tinyurl.com/ls39k2 for detailed information.
Post a Reply to this Thread
More Insect and Spider Identification Threads
-
SOLVED: Yellow Lightning Bugs??
started by ivk
last post by ivkApr 23, 20252Apr 23, 2025 -
SOLVED: Yellow Lightning Bugs??
started by ivk
last post by ivkApr 23, 20252Apr 23, 2025 -
SOLVED: Yellow Lightning Bugs??
started by emblue
last post by emblueApr 24, 20253Apr 24, 2025 -
SOLVED: Yellow Lightning Bugs??
started by PitterCol
last post by PitterColApr 30, 20252Apr 30, 2025 -
SOLVED: Yellow Lightning Bugs??
started by PitterCol
last post by PitterColMay 21, 20252May 21, 2025