What are these gold bugs on my plants? Are they hurting my plants? Should I get rid of them? How?

Michelle Powers
by Michelle Powers
  11 answers
  • Michelle Powers Michelle Powers on Jul 29, 2012
    In my minor state of panic, I finally figured out they are Soldier Beetles. Apparently they are desired by gardeners, they do not harm plants, but eat insects. However, one of the things they eat are caterpillars. I planted butterfly bushes on purpose... I don't want ugly beetles to eat my future butterflies. ???
    • DORLIS DORLIS on Aug 22, 2015
      @Michelle Powers keep the butterfly plants away from liatris (the one in photo) and keep an eye on butterfly weeds, etc for these beetles. take them off with tweezers and pitch them into a weed patch. I don't think butterfly are a food plant for caterpillars so you probably won't finid caterpillers on them . there is a web site called butterfly ranch, they ahve lots of info on butterflys, especially monarchs.
  • Vicki Vicki on Jul 29, 2012
    They are fire flies or lighting bugs. They do like my fennel herb plant very much and of course, I welcome them cuz we do enjoy watching them at night time.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Jul 30, 2012
    Soldier beetles do far more good than harm, Michelle. I think you should be glad you have them.
  • Michelle Powers Michelle Powers on Jul 30, 2012
    okie dokie
  • Carol Brown Carol Brown on May 29, 2014
    Look like lightning bugs to me.
  • Beth Beth on May 30, 2014
    Not lightening bugs. Soldier beetles for sure!
  • Connie S Connie S on Jun 03, 2014
    lightning bugs don't even look anything like this.
  • Tammi Tammi on Jun 04, 2014
    These might be what is on my Phlox. I thought they were Boxelder beetles, and eating them. I was going to try to find something to kill them, glad I saw this. I need to do some research and see if they are for sure.
  • Barbara Hansen Barbara Hansen on Jun 05, 2014
    Hmmm a Gold Bug? I think anything Gold is GOOD..but ask Edgar Allen Poe to be sure. Muahahahaha muhahahaha (evil laugh)
  • Vetsy Vetsy on Jun 05, 2014
    Thank goodness you have posted it.... I don't like beetles because they are creepy, ugly and scary... But at least I know that this one is a good guy and I can just shiver and than leave it be....
  • Mary Mary on Jan 10, 2015
    http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/iiin/soldier.html It's a soldier beetle. Information from Iowa State on its benefits. And, it does look like a lightening bug.