About
Body flat with yellow-orange stripe behind the head (around back of pronotum). Wings cases (elytra) dark green, covering a yellow-orange abdomen. Head and legs black. Plague Soldier Beetles form huge swarms of mating beetles in late summer. They visit flowers and are thought to feed on nectar, pollen and soft-bodied invertebrates. Their larvae live in the soil and eat soft-bodied invertebrates.The soldier beetle also secretes the same chemical in a wax form to protect it’s eggs against infection.
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.