CLOSED: What are these "mostly Yellow" bugs on my Gaillardia?

Algonquin, IL(Zone 5a)

Hi,
This has been a strange weather year so I'm not surprised to see insects I can't recall seeing before.

In the last few days I've noticed some Yellow bugs (with a little Black) on my Gaillardias (Blanket Flower). I've also seen just a few on my Rudbeckia (Black-eyed Susans). It's very odd because most of the time all I see on either of those is Bees, Butterflies and Goldfinches (they like the seeds).

When I suddenly see an unfamiliar insect, I have to assume it isn't a good thing, but I don't spray anything stronger than water or Liquid Fence (the latter to keep the bunnies and deer from nibbling my plants...I give them a little food of their own), neither of which hurt the beneficial insects or birds.

I'll attempt to upload a few pics (haven't had the best luck with all the gliches in this new uploading feature...some load and some don't). So here goes.....


Thumbnail by nutsaboutnature Thumbnail by nutsaboutnature Thumbnail by nutsaboutnature
Minot, ND

Soldier beetles in the genus Chauliognathus - http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/image/32261750
Beneficial pollinator and predator.

Algonquin, IL(Zone 5a)

Wow, Flapdoodle...THANK YOU..THANK YOU..THANK YOU for such a fast response!!!!!!!

That's totally amazing that an insect that showed up out of the "clear blue" is actually beneficial. I've left them alone since I hadn't seen any damage so far, but now I hope they stay. What are they predators of? I guess now that I know what they are, I can look that up myself.

Thanks so much for your help!! I'm going to close this thread now since the photo in the PBase link you posted left absolutely no doubt.

mid central, FL(Zone 9a)

there's a cute little spider in the first photo, maybe a crab spider of some kind.

Algonquin, IL(Zone 5a)

Wow, trackinsand...you're very observant! I never even noticed it, I was so intent on the Soldier Beetle!

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