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Plague Soldier Beetles

: by Jo
: 15 January 2012
: Comments (128)

Your Question: What are these swarming beetles in my garden?

The Discovery Centre has received many enquiries over the last few weeks about swarms of beetles in suburban gardens in and around Melbourne; they are Plague Soldier Beetles, Chauliognathus lugubris.

Plague Soldier Beetles
Image: Peter Saunders
Source: Peter Saunders

This flattened, elongated, soft-bodied beetle has a thin yellow-orange stripe across the back of the pronotum. It has metallic olive green elytra (hardened forewings), covering most of a yellow-orange abdomen. The legs, head, antennae and rest of the pronotum are black and the beetle is usually about 15mm in length. This native species has earned its common name of the Plague Soldier Beetle not as a result of bringing or spreading any dangerous plagues, rather due to its habit of forming huge mating swarms.

Plague Soldier Beetles
Image: Peter Saunders
Source: Peter Saunders

The larvae of this species live in the soil and feed on soft bodied invertebrates, while the adults feed on pollen and nectar. The species is found across large parts of the country including urban areas and adults can be seen from spring through to autumn. During their mating periods they can appear in such large numbers that it is not uncommon for them to weigh down the limbs of weaker plants.

Their bright colour warns off predators as they are capable of releasing distasteful chemicals and would not make a good meal. For homeowners who may be hosting huge numbers of this colourful species, don't be too concerned, following the mating swarm the beetles tend to disperse.

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Categories: Discovery Centre, Sciences
Tags: beetle, bug, chauliognathus lugubris, entomology, garden beetles, insect, mmdc, plague soldier beetle, swarm, your questions

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Comments (128)

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Thanks answered our query. We have a large collection of these at a damn near Glenlyon in Victoria and no one seemed to have seen them before or find out what they were.

We have lots in Yarragon at the moment- only see them on the hot sunny days

Really appreciated posting this, was a bit concerned, we had them in Lugarno, NSW. We blew them away with air and they kept coming back.

I am desperate. Whilst I appreciate the beetles are doing no harm, I have a big Christmas function in my back garden (58 people) in 11 days. From the comments, it seems they may not be gone - what can I do?

We have had thousdands of these in our garden for the last 2 weeks. They have 'moved' from the front garden to the back garden this week in their thousands

Covered front wall in clumps at Macedon Victoria, from a distance looked like some one had splatered it with mud.On inspection seemed like they were in a breeding frenzy.Have now dispersed into smaller groups around property.Glad i looked up this site before going into destruct mode.

Have had thousands on block the past weeks here at Lysterfield. Cold weather caused them to mass overnight on verandah. Today with heat they are up in the gum blossoms going gaga. Glad to know no problem although web suggests not too much known about them.

i have thousands and thousands of these in my back yard how do you get rid off them i am not happy to just leave them after 2 weeks since my kids cannot play out the back they are all over there swingsets and cubby

Thanks for the info. Have them in swarms in my back yard in Mount Martha. Glad to know they are not doing to much harm.

Thanks to the Knox Council and info above. We live in Boronia Melbourne with the National Park adjacent to us and behind us. Virtually overnight these beetles have swarmed and there would be thousands upon thousands of them. Good to know they are not harmful and in fact they are actually a good thing.Hopefully they will move on soon

So glad I came across this. I have been trying to track down what these are for weeks. They have descended on us in Mount Waverley in their thousands. Ours too moved from the front yard where most mornings they could be found all over my car and have taken over the backyard and a large gum which in 14 years we have never seen flower before. Was beginning to think this was some kind of biblical plague!

Another glad recipient of this information - in Bayswater North and the backyard is swarming with this little creepy crawlies!! Glad to hear they will move on after mating - lets hope that process is a quick one!

Same story where we live in Mandurang on the edge of Bendigo. Thousands of the bugs crawling around all over the ground, walls, rubbish bins, etc. mating. Hope they disperse soon!

Are the Plague Soldier Beetles one of the Longicorn species?

Hi Rosemary, the Plague Soldier Beetle is not one of the longicorn species; the Plague Soldier Beetle comes from the family Cantharidae, while the longicorn beetles come from the family Cerambycidae.

Thanks I've been waiting for rentokll to get back to me all week (only for identification purposes and safety of our dog). We first saw them at Somers in January and now we have them in Balwyn.

I first noticed these beetles on my potatoe patch around December now I discovered their huge offsprings in clumps, around the garden beds .What sort of damage can they cause around the garden and what is their favourite meal

Hi Tony, when you get huge swarms of these beetles it is generally a mating swarm, so they don't tend to be doing much eating. They shouldn't cause much damage although if there are huge numbers and they rest on weak or delicate plants they may weigh them down and break them. The adults eat predominatly nectar, pollen and soft bodied invertebrates.

Ok thanks Discovery,so I won't have to worry about them as I don't like to use any kind of spray unless I have to.Tony

This is our 2nd plague of soldier beetles in 4 months, our 1st was 24th of november and our house is under attack again, they have come in under the tin roof and into our house via down lights and fans. i would hate to see the inside of our roof....

Hello Discovery, Today, we have encountered a mating swarm over the front of our house in Malvern and all over and through the engine of our car. My question is: How long will this swarm or infestation last? One or two days or longer? Thanks, Dean

Hi we have these beetles every where in our back yard as well we are in newcastle they are loving our tree which is flowering

Hi we have a swarm at Taggerty just arrived today in a mating frenzy, they seem to prefer white or light coloured flowers to congregate in.

We have them in our garden in St Andrews. They are all over roses and any other blossoms they can but don't seem to be doing any damage.

Hi Dean, the length of time that these beetles will spend in an area can vary; it could just be a day or two or it could be up to a week or so. The adult stage of this beetle species is very short, so they quickly need to get together, mate and for the female to lay her eggs before they die. So hopefully they will be off your car and house shortly.

Just wondered where in fact do the females lay their eggs... in my garden where they are currently in plague proportions or do they fly elsewhere...?hopefully Thanks

Great information. We live in Yea and have had literally thousands of these beetles in the trees, particularly on every blossom. I've never seen them before and I was worried that they might be a 'pest' beetle ... glad to hear they are somewhat beneficial. And they do look like they are really enjoying themselves !!! Lastly, does anyone know how long they'll be here (it's been nearly 2 weeks now) ? But I noticed that on my Malus blossum trees (which they seem to particularly love), the bees don't seem to mind them because they are all in there together.

You say they like soft bodied invertebrates, but does include aphids? I noticed them on our White cedar and Robinia trees last year but now they are everywhere,and all over our vegetable garden, hoping they might be beneficial?

We have a massive swarm of them in our front yard on a lemon-scented gum tree in Greensborough - happy to know they are not dangerous and will be eating the aphids off my roses.

we have had about 4 really bad infestations over past few years. in Katoomba nsw. especially when summer begins. now they are back. unfortunately i cannot stand to look at their clumps as they are in backyard within my sight whenever i sit in kitchen!they actually turn my stomach!! i'm afraid we have sprayed them previously before we knew what they were. we used mortein outdoor spray but upset my asthma! Karen 7th nov asked what happens to their eggs? do they lay them back into our garden soil or fly elsewhere? i will look at site again for reply. thanks

Hi Hannah, yes these beetles are likely to take aphids. The downside to them in your garden can be that if their numbers are sufficiently large they can weigh down some young or weaker plants.

Thanks for this information and everyone's questions and experiences. I was shocked to discover my back deck, furniture and a number of shrubs teeming with these beetles. You have eased my mind.

On 14th November 2011 these beetles were identified for us after great concern for the plague we were experiencing. Exactly a year later, they are back in greater proportions. The seem to have taken over Healesville. Thanks to last year's identification, we know not to worry. They are pesty though.

Do these insects bite or sting humans? Have a large swarm at our house in Wodonga Victoria.

They're beautiful and a real Australian icon - all dressed in green and gold! There are many of them in Wangaratta at the moment.

Hi Sophia, these beetles do not bite or sting people; they do have chemicals they can release as a deterrant to predators.

So glad to hear the above news. Have noticed these beetles over the last week or so but it wasn't till I went out this morning to fertilise my pittosporum hedge that I saw how densely they have populated said hedge and elsewhere in the front garden. Husband googled and I now feel at ease, though I could not see any damage. Glad to be a part of the ecosystem.

Hi Karen, we suspect the adults usually disperse before laying eggs or people would be getting swarms in the same place every year. Some people do report getting these beetles in consecutive years but we don't know whether that is because eggs have been laid on the property or whether the beetles are attracted by a particular flowering tree.

Just found hundreds on a tree in our back paddock (have 3.5 acres in Lara, Vic). Glad they are not a pest: husband was about to spray them. Thanks so much for info.

Are these the beetles which have washed up on the beaches this weekend?

Probably. I've seen them washed up on Edithvale beach in the last few weeks.

I've seen them swarming in Campbellfield and Richmond. Do we have any idea why they have taken up residency in Vic?

I was watering the garden the other day and found these bugs on the back lawn. It was like a carpet of yellow and metalic green! Did not know what they were and was about to run the mower over them when I saw what they were doing... They were having a massive orgy party! It was like a beetle Woodstock in the middle of West Ryde NSW!

Thank you for the information, I am on the surfcoast and have seen these before but not the mass found on my watertank this afternoon, mating season indeed :)

I have spent days trying to identify these bugs. They have been swarming from Callistemon to callistemon as they come into flower and mating in major numbers. Good to heare that they like aphids!! I have too many of those as well. The Gurdies.

I have just returned from a holiday and was horrified to walk into my top floor Apartment (on the beach-front, Melbourne), to find millions of bugs like a dark carpet all over my floor to ceiling windows! There is no garden like all other comments,it was like coming home to a "horror movie". They had also gotten inside and nested under the blinds along the window frame, yuk! We spent the day spraying inside and out so that we could see out the windows! I have noticed these bugs a few times each year, but NEVER like they are now, what has happened to our eco system that they are in plague proportion as their name implies.

We last night and today must have millions in our front yard and on the house of the soldier beetles in a bayside suburb of melb they have litterly covered trees in their millions.......there back

Hi there Great info Got back from work to sunshine west Vic only to find these ozzy gernzy flying bugs every were, the tree on the nature strip was covered, the lawn, couple of shrubs as well with these crawling horny ozzy battlers. Luckily though quickly searched the bugs characteristics reason being I was ready to arm up and exterminate. Knowing now these guys are out partying before they drop, mate let them go for it -great way out - goes to show even our bugs have mutated as time evolved to the Aussie way...CoooooEeee

Thanks for the information A swarm of beetles decended on our yard in western sydney.

We live in Somerville and have these beetles by the thousands in our front yard on 3 lemon scented gum trees. I was getting quite concerned thought they might be a problem. Even tried to hose them off the trees to no avail they fell off trees then crawled back up and continued mating! - Hope they go soon - the kids hate them so do I! Does anyone know what country they come from?

Denise, it says in the text that they are native.

This is the first time in my life that I have seen this creatures when it's so hot. And when it's cool they go away. I would like to get rid of them, as I go out and water the garden I get surrounded by them, about 6.30pm.

hi , i am in Melton , Vic and i have millions of them in the backyard freaked the crap outta me but good to know i can let the kids out the back

Hi Just saw thousands of them in the paddock in Lysterfield.Are they harmful go horses at all?

So glad I found this site too cause they are clumps and hundreds of them on only one side of the house I have never seen these in Melbourne in such large numbers in all my life. We live in Narre Warren South, and I have also noticed the cockatoos and crows around more and in large numbers, no doubt they're eating these beetles. Glad they aren't harmful but they do look freaky in there large clumps...dirty little buggers..lol

Hi Danni, visit the Ask the Experts page for details about identifications.

Hi all, we live on the South Coast of NSW and have these covering the external walls of our top floor apartment, despite the reassuring posts these bugs will keep me from using our verandas till they have moved on!

We live in Dover Heights in a two storey house. Thousands of these beetles are all over our eaves & clumped on the windows - just gross!

Hi Jeanne, we have checked with the Entomologist, and he has found no record of the Plague Soldier Beetle being harmful to horses.

hey i live in montrose vic, theese beetles are everywhere in our front yard, millions of them from the front kerb all the way to our front door they're even breeding under the bonet of my car. they have been here for about 2 weeks now and seem to tripple in number every day. our whole front door and walls around it were pitch black with them and they leave yellow stains everywhere they go. i regret to say that i killed a few of them, but felt bad so i stoped shortly after i started but now things are out of hand and i dont know what to do and im getting tired of it verry quickly. is there a way to get rid of them fast without killing them?

Hi Discovery, Thanks for all the info, thanks also to those commenting. I'm a professional gardener/landscaper primararily in the bayside area of Victoria. Yes, they are everywhere, particularly on trees (those on the ground seem to have fallen from the trees). They crawl all over us when working with no harm. They certainly don't bother us or from a distance, the plants on which they are on. We are also experiencing repetitive doses of these beetles each year. My question from a botanical view, is, what small invertabrates are they consuming as larvae in the ground? and could this affect the micro activity that the plants (trees) may need to be at their best? There is no mention of control. Is it best to address the understoreys whilst in larvae form? much like the scarab(lawn beetle)? Thanks in advance

I've been searching the web for an answer to our swarm of these bugs, happy to have an answer. They might not be harmful but is there any way of moving them on? I find their big dark climbs all over lawn, trees and walls very creepy.

We have had an enormous swarm (10s of thousands) of these all over our back yard for a week now. How long do they usually habg around? They seem to like a flowering tree in our yard but the neighbour has the exact same variety of tree & they're not going near that one. Very strange.

Hi to all the people currently hosting populations of Plague Soldier Beetles. We understand some of you find their presence somewhat intimidating or annoying but try not to be too concerned. The beetles are native and don't bite. People want to know how long they'll be around and how to prevent them coming back. It seems to vary considerably with some people reporting them leaving in a couple of days and some reporting them staying for more than a week.

The Museum is not aware of any treatments to prevent them coming back. These beetles can be a positive in that they will be consuming things like aphids. People can try squirting them with the hose to move them on but as they are very focused on getting together and mating the easiest thing may be to let them get that done and then they'll move on.

I have them too! They are revolting. I'm afraid that I've spent the morning stepping on thousands of them that had decided to have their orgy on my back lawn.I just had to try and find out what they were and feel a little more relaxed now that I know.

I have had these in my garden since the start of spring and they have only multiplied, I live in hampton Vic, They seem to like raspberries unripe and ripe other than that they don't seem to done any other damage! But its time they must go after reading 90% of this thread. Good or bad I don't want them here!

Came home from work today to find a whole lot of these guys making whoopie on the plants under our lemon scented gum. I have lived in Marshall, Vic for about 10 years and this is the first time I have seen them here. Thanks for the info you have provided - as long as they leave when they have finished their business I don't mind them.

Thank you so much for putting my mind at ease, I have millions of these things around my home in Montrose. This afternoon I was about to pay a pest company $300 to spray my entire property, surely pest control companies know that they're harmless and will go of their own accord, they should let people know, luckily I found this site before spending money i haven't got. Now, could you just let me know how long my guests will be staying?

We are in Berwick and some areas of the ground in our paddocks are moving with the density of the bugs on the ground. They are also on nearly every surface you can imagine - underneath leaves, all over branches, the edge of the verandah glass. My real concern is they are in the water troughs forming a black mass meaning the horses can't drink without us emptying every day.

I report thousands of beetles swarming in what appears to be isolated to one garden at Tootgarook on the Peninsula. Relieved to have them identified - thanks. They appear to have become active after digging in the garden, as that spot erupted with thousands, then they spread everywhere particularly clustering and massing over a small green children's plastic slide. The must have liked the color. This is the fourth day and the beetles are showing little sign of moving on as yet!

Have thousands of these beetles in my back yard, started by clumping on the lawn then went up into the trees now today they are flying everywhere. My only concern is for the past week we have had a lot of bees mostly on the buddlias, today with the beetles swarming there are no bees at all.

I live in Bonbeach by the river and these pretty little beetles have been swarming my place in the tens of thousands off & on for about 2 months now. They leave for a week & just as I plan a sitdown catered xmas function for 20 people on my deck ......back they come. Agree they dont sting, but you just cant sit outside amongst them and my guests end up leaving because they are so annoying ! I see comments of them hanging around for a week or two. Ive had two months of it now ..... I hope I get to enjoy my summer on my new decking very soon :(

Thanks for info. Have been bad in Altona for at least 3 weeks being particularly bad on hot days. Can't wait till they loose their mating urge.

Looked out side today a saw million of these buds about 30 to 40 meters in the sky. Looked like an invasion of bugs...very scary!

Thanks so much for this information! None of my gardening guru friends had the slightest idea about this beetle or whether it was a pest or beneficial for gardens.

Hi Tim, I don't know that anyone has studied what species of invertebrate the larvae of this species feed on; as such we wouldn't be able to say whether the larval populations have any affect, (either positive or negative) on trees.

Leave our friends alone please. "Soldier beetles are highly desired by gardeners as biological control agents of a number of pest insects. The larvae tend to be dark brown or gray, slender and wormlike with a rippled appearance due to pronounced segmentation. They consume grasshopper eggs, aphids, caterpillars and other soft bodied insects, most of which are pests. The adults are especially important predators of aphids. They supplement their diet with nectar and pollen and can be minor pollinators. Soldier beetle populations can be increased by planting good nectar- or pollen-producing plants such as Asclepias or Solidago."

They may be desirable by gardeners but the tens of thousands I have had in my front yard for the last month are completely freaking me out they leave some sort of secretion behind that is ruining my painwork, I just need some sort of solution to keep them off my house!

Thank you for the information! I can now tell my parents that they don't have to worry about our plants. It's really scary seeing so many of them clustered together!!

Hi, I'm not too keen on the fact that they leave yellow stains on white washing. Cannot remove the stains, do you have any ideas? I'm glad they're not dangerous though.

I live in Torquay, and have had millions of them swarming in one corner of my garden for 2 weeks. They are flying around a giant lilli pilli tree that is flowering, and swarming on every plant and blade of gtrass under the tree. I tried hosing them, and sweeping them off the path, but they very quickly come back. I have asked people who live nearby, and they only have a few flying around. I usually see a lot of aphids on my roses at this time, but have none this year. I have also seen them washed up on the shore line at the beach.

I have them on my Sunbury property, scaring the life of me this morning when I went outside and saw the new lawn "moving" with hundreds of thousands of these things. Large clumps have formed on the verandah posts, and the chickens wont go near them!

They have just arrived in our back garden in Mooroolbark, hanging off the seed pods on our large acacia shrub and all over the place in the vicinity. I was a bit spooked at this plague when it is supposed to be the end of the world today, but I am glad to learn that I don't need to worry!

I am in Glenhaven Sydney hills and i had millions apon millions swarming my flowering weeping lilly pillys. Thay are now clumped all over my herbs and all the rest of my garden nearest my lilly pillys. There are so many on the branches of the lilly pillys they are weighted down and look very heavy.My 13 year old daughter is now scared to go outside and i will be glad to see the back of them. I dont like the idea of chemical control ( i would probably need a tanker full) so i think i will just wait them out.

We should think of this as a gentle reminder that we share the world with others. I am quite surprised how people can be freaked out by nature. Perhaps it goes to show how some of us believe that nature should conform to us rather than the other way around. At the end of the day a minor inconvenience or a little yellow discolouration is not such a big deal, it it? Well, at least it shouldn't be. My 4 y/o daughter has been learning all about them and is not at all freaked out. Far as I can see, unless one of them accidentally flies in your mouth (not very tasty) then it's no big deal. The manicured lawns and fresh paint are after all , less important.

plague of them in kew as well, and I initially thought they were flying baby cockroaches. Now I know what they are I am not worried that much. If they are inside the house wort vaccuming though. good luck and hope they will dissappear soon.

Was travelling in the high country above Dargo a few weeks ago and found huge clumps of these beetles weighing down the trees up at the Pinnacles. Now, a few weeks later we have heaps of them at home in Lyndhurst We've never had these before, usually we have lots of Harlequin bugs this time of year I've noticed the Harlequins are almost non-existent I wonder if the Soldier Beetles do something to keep the Harlequins away?

As much as I'm pleased to read that they won't harm or devour our beautiful trees and veggie patch in our backyard, it would be nice for them to now move on. I feel 6 weeks of stained washing and and being swammed on ourselves when watering is long enough. My concern is that their numbers only keep increasing with no sign of them moving on. I fear it is due to the big flowering tree in our backyard that they have taken over. You mentioned in another post that they have a short life span. How long exactly is it? This will give me an indication of whether we just have a super large number of them or if we are getting new ones joining in all the time. Thanks

Many thanks for the interesting read regarding these friendly and harmless beetles. I live in Mentone, Vic and they have been in my back yard for two weeks. I am looking forward to them finishing their business so we can once again enjoy our back yard. Nature is a wonderful thing but wish they would get on and do their job a bit quicker and move on !

llive in bonbeach near the beach and they have nested in the trees in the unit block in their thousands just clumps of beetles seem to become more active in hot weather glad they are harmless otherwise it could be a horror story

thousands in my backyards and very annoying. I know they are harmless and hope they move on ASAP. If we don't do anythings now they may cause big problems in future. Thousands in this year , five thousands in 2 years and millions in five years and one day they may be out of control and is too late for us to control them.

Hi Tony, according to one publication from the 1980's swarms of Harlequin Bugs often move to cultivated plants from native trees, shrubs, and weeds along roadsides when these dry out in the summertime. There may be an element of competition between the 2 species but Harlequin Bugs and Plague Soldier Beetles have different food sources. It may also be that the Harlequin Bugs haven't yet started to move into people's gardens, (and hence become noticed) if sufficient moisture and nutrients still remain in these other plants.

Hi Bridget, the adult Plague Soldier Beetles probably live for a couple of months only.

Today found these flying and swarming in what seems like thousands at our property in Swan Bay NSW never seen this before, my husband thought they were bees until we went and had a closer look, found this great website, the name "plague" seems very appropriate, from all the posts it seems this Plague Soldier Beetle is spreading its wings and increasing its footprint around our turf, so much breeding has got to increase the numbers of this beetle and maybe could displace other pollen and nectar diners.

Have a major infestation in North Avalon NSW on a flowering gum. They were swarming (flying) the other morning - I thought they were bees - and did not venture close. The poor tree is suffering under the weight. Thanks for the info.

Just been to Kingston Council to find out information and they gave me this fantastic website. Wonder why the nasty looking Plague Soldier Beetles be infumigated? They are on our front door porch, in and out of letterbox and fence! Hundreds of them! Yuk!

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These beetles look very similar to the masses which have colonised one of our large trees at Valentine, Lake Macquarie. Good to know that they are harmless and even better to know that soon they will move along!

We have just arrived home to hundreds of these beetles at our house, glad I found this website because I was getting worried. How long before they move on? We are in Melbourne, Vic

They may be harmless, but when we can't get out our front door because as soon as we open it hundreds fall inside, they're annoying! They're coming into the house through every window at the front, and as we have a beautiful flowering Gum tree right in front of the property, it's like a heaving mass all over the nature strip, it sounds like its raining so many are smacking against the panes of glass.

I live in Mt Waverley and had a plague of them on one corner of my house. I put a knee high stocking over the hose of a vacuum cleaner and secured it with a rubber band. When I switched on the cleaner all the beetles were sucked up into the stocking. Before turning off the cleaner I folded the loose end of the stocking back over the hose end, tied it and held it securely so it wouldn't be sucked back up the hose and switched off the vacuum cleaner. I've put the beetle filled stocking in a bottle and will wait until they die.

Hi Gillian, these beetles are a native species and can play an important role as plant pollinators but there is no law to say they can't be killed. Completely up to you but it might be nicer if you decide you want to kill them to place the stocking in the freezer which will quickly and relatively humanely kill them.

I have noticed 2 very large swarms on trees here at work. North Ryde, NSW. They only swarmed on 1 side of each tree. I Was concerned at first but thanks for all the information I will leave them alone and hopefully they will move on in the next few weeks. I have pictures if you want them.

We have just been invaded by the soldier beetle, we live in Budgeree Vic. They have made our huge Cheshnut tree their home,large limbs are weighted down by thousands of beetles all clumped together and when you shake the branch it looks like heavy rainfall. Now after 4 days they are flying around the garden. Amazing site.

I was quite happy to live out the plague at the end of the year that invaded my garden, however have now found that they have decimated my worm farm. Before I re-establish it, I am wanting to know how I can safely remove and dispose of the larve (along with what remains of my farm - castings and food). Any suggestions?

There was a swarm of hundreds or thousands of them outside an office in Doncaster today. Great to see this harmless natural phenomenon in action in the suburbs.

My neighbour was talking about them yesterday as he has some on his property - he is wondering if these Soldier beetles are what he has always known by the common name of 'blister beetles' ? and a comment - I am constantly amazed, and saddened, by the number of people who seem unable to cope with the natural processes of nature when they impact on them - leave the poor creatures be, they'll be gone soon enough.

I'm into macro photography and great to read about these beetles. We have had a few hundred gathered on various plants but only during days where the temperature is in the high 30s. A friend on mine in early December had 4m of his gum tree covered in these - must have been thousands of them!

I live in Reservoir Victoria and am finding that the beetles seem to have impacted on my fruit and vegetable garden; sucking the 'juice' from plums, peaches, tomatoes. I applied soapy detergent and this seems to have helped in getting rid of them.

Hi John I live in the Riverina area, these pesky things were all over our grapes and figs and sucked them dry and what they didn't suck dry left a bitter taste on the fruit was not impressed, hope they don't return next season

Hi John, it would be unlikely that the Plague Solider Beetles would be sucking the juices from your plants as when they are swarming their primary focus is usually mating. However, your treatment may have deterred something else that may have been causing some damage.

We have thousands of these beetles on a beautiful gum tree in the park next door to our house, they have been there for more than 4 weeks and have spent some time on the grass and some time on a smaller tree whose leaves are now dying, obviously the tree couldnt handle stress. Bit disconcerting when they fly into your mouth, hair and face as you walk in the park but our young boys are facinated with them. You knows when they will move on!

I've lived in the Upper Yarra for 23 years and never experienced anything like it! Hundreds of thousands of the little buggers literally 'raining' in our front yard from the neighbours' tall trees (including a huge lilli pilli) during mid-December – and they stuck around for a month or so. Earlier this month they started appearing in the primary school across the road and are still there in big numbers. Since I've never experienced this phenomenon before I'm starting to suspect there might be a connection with our exceptionally dry summer?

Hi we also have thousands of them in our backyard and now I feel really bad considering how long they live for and they don't bite. I just massacred about ten thousand in one go. Am I going to heaven still??? They look like the stink bugs up in Queensland, our Little Jack Russel (GUS) is a Veteran Bug killer and he won't go near them. So I'm guessing if they aren't trying to sneak into the house or make the Mrs Scream they are ok, but if they come any closer and make my life hard, it's Asta La Vista Baby.

We have been "plagued" for about 8 weeks around our house in the western suburbs I soon learnt they like white and caused me to have to bring in my white sheets I had just washed and hung on the line as they seemed to be laying lave on them. Everything had to be washed again no enjoying sitting in the back garden either. The sooner they go the better!

The CSIRO insect of the week site says: "The bright colours of Chauliognathus are a warning to any predator thinking of taking a swipe at one, as they exude a white viscous fluid from their glands that repels any predators thinking of getting too close. Close up image of the secreted fluid of a soldier beetle A close up view of the secreted fluid (Image Victoria Haritos) The soldier beetle also secretes the same chemical in a wax form to protect it’s eggs against infection. Our researchers have recently found the genes that give the chemical its anti-microbial and anti-cancer properties, and were able to replicate the synthesis in the lab. This may one day lead to the development of new anti-biotic and anti-cancer related products." So if you can, try not to kill these beetles, you can never be sure what a thing is really good for - these might save us from cancer one day! The CSIRO blog in full is here

We are at Lake Conjola NSW first time I have seen them here in 9 years of camping at this time of year. As you have said they seem to be mating by the thousands, hope they don't stay to long as the Easter break starts this weekend.

Hi, these are swarming at Phillip Island this long weekend. The house yard is off limits until they move on!!!

I recently moved from frankston north to carrum downs and feel they have followed me:( however i havent seen the mass amount as i now have all over my front yard from the grass, to the concrete now they are slowly moving into my back yard and on my outdoor furniture on back decking. i have a phobia of bugs so its really getting to me that my 4 yr old son loves them collects them and wants them as pets and everyday they just seems to be more and more of them no matter the weather every day their there:(

These beatles are swarming in Queensland too. I live on the Darling Downs (in the country) and the eaves of our house are black at the moment. Have been now for a week. Like everyone else I hope they move on soon. We have been living here for 10 years and this is the first time we've had them like this.

Pascoe Vale Vic they love the silver car! Thanks for the info.

HAVE HAD THESE SOLDIER BEETLES AROUND MY NATIVES FOR LAST WEEK NEVER SEEN THEM HERE BEFORE I HEAR THEY LAY THERE EGGS IN THE SOIL DOES THAT MEAN THEY WILL BE AROUND EVERY YEAR FROM NOW ON? OR WILL THEY MOVE ON I AM IN SYDNEHAM MELBOURNE VICTORIA

I too have these in my back garden in Berwick. They always come when my gum tree flowers. The ground is a mess with the broken gum nut things and the little hair like things that fall from the gum. The beetles are not a problem but the bees are lol. We have beautiful Rosellas in the gum & bats at night. At least I know what these beetles are now. Thanks.

Exactly the same sceario here in dundas valley NSW . rather annoying as they leave yellow sperm all over the washing basket and on whites. The gum tree is in full flower and the bats are partying all night long .

We just had a swarm arrive last week that have grown in numbers and have taken up residence around our pond in Oatley (Sydney). They are having a great time!

Im in Rowville, melbourne, and have tens of thousands of these in my yard....How do i get rid of them...they are all over my car as well... havnt seen them before this week....

We have had quite a few in our backyard at Drouin over the last week. Not sure if the are eating the leaves of our chilli and jalapeño plants but they are annoying anyway. Seems every season there is a plague of some sort of different insect or bird, weird!

I caught a trout in the Kyneton area today and kept it to eat. Its stomach was packed full of beetles, mostly what look like soldier beetles. I guess they didn't taste bad to the trout. Do the beetles actually have a toxin in them? I ask because the trout ate the beetles and then I ate the trout....

I was wondering if you had any idea as to the length of time larvae of the Plague Soldier Beetles are in the ground before becoming an adult?