CLOSED: Small black and orange flying bug

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Teamwild Keene, NH Aug 01, 2010

These guys have invaded our French Hydrangea. Anyone know what they are? Should I be waging war on them or just wait till they go away?

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Post #8011863
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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Aug 02, 2010

These appear to be soldier beetles (Coleoptera: Cantharidae); there are members of at least three genera that can have this general color pattern - see http://tinyurl.com/24jqkle, http://tinyurl.com/2fa8jqq, and http://tinyurl.com/28pb6j3 for some examples. Both larvae and adults of this family are predaceous on other small arthropods; the adults also may feed on pollen - see http://tinyurl.com/2awzhyq. They definitely will not harm your hydrangea.

Post #8013771
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Teamwild Keene, NH Aug 02, 2010

Those look like the guys, Thanks! Nice to know I won't need to burn the yard :-)


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