The Soldier Beetle is a steadfast ally to the home gardener by protecting and pollinating, doing plants two favors at once.

They are usually spotted on flowers. While reducing the number of plant-sucking insects, they also pollinate flowers so the plants can reproduce.

A variety of species vary in pattern, though most are some kind of orange and black. Some Soldier Beetles are paler orange, almost yellow. All have eltyra (wing coverings) that have the texture of leather. They can fly from plant to plant. They are active late summer to early autumn.