Hairy-petaled Soldier Beetle (Goldenrod Soldier Beetle)
Scientific Name: Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus
Order & Family: Order Coleoptera; Family Cantharidae
Size: 9 to 13 mm (0.35 to 0.5 inches)
Natural Habitat
Found in fields, gardens, and meadows, often on flowering plants such as goldenrod and milkweed.
Diet & Feeding
Adults feed on nectar and pollen from flowers. Larvae are predatory and consume small insects, grasshopper eggs, and snails in the soil.
Behavior Patterns
Active during the day in late summer and fall. They are important pollinators and are frequently seen mating on flower heads. They undergo complete metamorphosis with larvae overwintering in the soil.
Risks & Benefits
Highly beneficial to the ecosystem as both pollinators and natural pest controllers. They do not sting or bite humans and are harmless to crops and garden plants.
Identified on: 4/12/2026