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Unusual orange / red bug on my cosmos

Can anyone help me identify this bug which seems to be mating all over my recently purchased cosmos plant. I had bought it , left it in the wheelbarrow and noticed this evening it was covered in these wee chaps !!
Many Thanks for advice 
Cathy

Posts

  • cathy.jocathy.jo Posts: 3
    PS I found this photo on the internet as my photos came out blurry. Although I found the photo on the internet after searching “ Orange/ Red bugs on cosmos “ the article it was attached to was in Spanish so couldn’t find the name but this is exactly what it looks like 😁
  • FireFire Posts: 17,374
    edited July 2018
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 9,931
    Soldier beetle, it's a cover-all name for a few similar looking species. They're one of the good guys in the garden as they like to snack on aphids (when they're not shagging on your flowers, which they seem to do non-stop).
    Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people
  • wild edgeswild edges Posts: 9,931
    lol I think bonking beetle is my new favourite bug name. :D
    Tradition is just peer pressure from dead people
  • granmagranma Posts: 1,929
     :o:D  
  • cathy.jocathy.jo Posts: 3
    Thanks everyone ! 😁
    Glad to know theyre not harmful to the plant ! Id never heard of “ the bonking beetle “ before 😂😂😂
  • Papi JoPapi Jo Posts: 3,994
    edited July 2018
    Soldier beetle, it's a cover-all name for a few similar looking species. They're one of the good guys in the garden as they like to snack on aphids (when they're not shagging on your flowers, which they seem to do non-stop).
    Those lovely 'bonking beetles' regularly come to my garden in July. They are fond of my roses, and many other flowers. Yesterday I spotted them having a threesome on a specimen of Eupatorium cannabinum (hemp-agrimony) but did not have my camera at hand.

    Here's a pic of a foursome  :o I took some years ago in the countryside


    You are invited to a virtual visit of my garden (in English or in French).
  • FireFire Posts: 17,374
    Wow, they really are always bonking! Every photo, every moment.
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