Summer warning as thousands of creatures 'swarm' in 'patches' on Aussie lawn
Despite their name and tendency to form large swarms during mating, these critters are harmless to humans and crops, making them ecologically valuable.
After an Australian garden enthusiast shared footage of thousands of beetles in a "mating swarm" on an east coast lawn, an entomologist warned anyone else who stumbles across the phenomenon to "leave them be" — for an important reason.
Taking to social media this week, a Melburnian shared photos of plague soldier beetles mating in incredible numbers at Queens Park in Moonee Ponds. "Patches of lawn are covered in these little insect piles. Any idea what's happening here?" they asked.
People from all over the country responded with confusion, many admitting they'd never seen such a sight. Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Dr Tom White, entomologist at Sydney University, said the beetles are perfectly harmless and native to Australia.
He said should anybody come across them, the best thing to do is simply let them be, as they play a vital role in the ecosystem.
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Why are plague soldier beetles important?
As adults, plague soldier beetles are pollinators — feeding on nectar and pollen and helping to fertilise a wide variety of flowering plants. Their pollination activities are essential for maintaining biodiversity and supporting crop production.
"They're native to Australia, and what you're seeing there is almost certainly a mating swarm, which is common at this time of year as the weather warms up," White told Yahoo.
"They’re actually great for the garden since the adults are enthusiastic pollinators which feed on nectar, and their larvae prey upon small pest insects, so it’s a double-win," he pointed out, adding that the beetles contribute to natural pest control.
White explained the bugs are "chemically defended" — meaning they produce toxic or repellent metabolites on predators — but they're "perfectly harmless to humans".
"They just taste nasty to their common predators like lizards and birds. So if you come across a gathering like this I'd suggest enjoying the spectacle and leaving them be," he said.
Despite their name and tendency to form large swarms during mating, they are harmless to humans and crops, making them an ecologically valuable species, White added.
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