soldier beetles

[Julian Teh <>]

The local Black faced cuckoo shrike and wattle birds have been having a field day - the soldier beetles seem to be the only ones around, but perhaps there is something else further up I can't see.

They seem to be swarming mainly over my orange tree, perhaps eating the nectar. 

Cheers,

Julian Teh

Sent from My iPad

On 24/11/2012, at 8:09 AM, "Steve Holliday" <> wrote:

Hi Rosemary

 

The fact that they are so conspicuous immediately suggests they are full of nasty chemicals. I have never seen birds eating them, would be interested to hear if anybody else has.

 

I assume they are eating pollen and/or nectar. The main purpose of their swarming behaviour would be for breeding.

 

Cheers

Steve

 

From: Rosemary Blemings [m("blemings.org","rosemary");">]
Sent: Saturday, 24 November 2012 7:54 AM
To: Elizabeth Compston
Cc: Birds Canberra
Subject: Re: [canberrabirds] soldier beetles

 

Does anyone have any observations of any birds taking advantage of these plagues or are the beetles unpalatable?

Here in Flynn the beetles have swarmed over Agonis flexuosa  and a Leptospermum currently in profuse flower. In other words what are the beetles feeding on?

 

Thanks,

Rosemary

On 23/11/2012, at 9:43 PM, Elizabeth Compston wrote:

Thank you for the responses about the insect I wanted to have identified.  People seem to agree that it is soldier beetle.  I looked it up on Google and that is definitely what it is

Elizabeth
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