Soldier Beetle

The bloodsucker (incorrectly)

The common soldier beetle (Rhagonycha fulva) is sometimes called the “bloodsucker” beetle — an entirely undeserved reputation. It cannot bite humans; the red colour that prompted the name is simply pigmentation, not evidence of blood-feeding. The nickname has caused unnecessary fear of a wholly harmless and beneficial insect.

The redcoat resemblance

The vivid scarlet-and-black pattern strongly resembles the uniform of a British Army redcoat soldier — hence the common name. The bright colouration may serve as warning colouration (aposematism), suggesting to predators that the beetle is distasteful, though the effectiveness of this in the common soldier beetle is debated.

Pollinator on umbellifers

In July and August, soldier beetles are among the most abundant beetles on umbellifer flowers — cow parsley, hogweed, angelica, and wild carrot. They’re there to eat pollen and small insects (aphids, thrips), and carry pollen on their bodies to the next flower. They’re considered important pollinators of these plants.

Adults are often seen mating on flowers for extended periods — up to several hours — which is part of why they’re so conspicuous in summer.

Larval predators

The larvae live in soil and leaf litter, where they actively hunt slug eggs, small slugs, and other soft invertebrates. A garden with a good soldier beetle population has an invisible but effective slug-control workforce working through the autumn and winter.