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Soldier Beetle

Soldier beetle is a very close relative of lightning bugs. Adult beetles have oval-shaped, long bodies that are black and orange. When their bodies are mostly an orange color, they can resemble soldier uniforms. The antenna of these insects are long and straight. Soldier beetles are predatory insects that feed on other small insects, worms, or sometimes even snails. Some adults feed on flower nectar. Adults lay eggs in moist areas such as soil or dead leaves on the ground. They hatch into larvae that consume eggs of many garden pests. They mature and pupate to emerge as adults.