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Soldier beetle identification?

Q:

I found this beetle on a lupin plant. The plant also has aphids. Not sure if this guy is beneficial or not.

A:

Nice photo! That is a soldier beetle (family Cantharidae) in the genus Podabrus. Here is a photo of another one of these for comparison.

Soldier beetles like this one are definitely not harmful and can be beneficial. Most species feed on aphids or other small, soft-bodied insects. Others feed on nectar or honeydew. It kind of looks like the one in your photo has an aphid in its jaws, so that would make it one that feeds on aphids.

Hope that helps!

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