2 Brownish red beetles mating ID

[gobbiner]

Ive never seen one of these before i cant find the at all what are they please thank you

[2dogs2000]

Rhagonycha fulva also known as hogweed bonking beetles. I wonder why?

[Kayleigh]

They are soldier beetles..Bonking beetles - Rhagonycha fulva.

[~T~]

Yeh soldier beetles, you see black ones too. Are these as common as they used to be? I don't see them much anymore. I feel really bad because as a kid my neighbour told me they were clegs and would bite me so I had to kill them. This went against my love for wildlife but at the same time I didn't want bitten so I did kill some. It wasn't until many years later I discovered my error

[~T~]

OMG I just read they eat aphids. I will be collecting some asap as my little mini greenhouse is overrun with them and I can find no ladybirds.

[2dogs2000]

Originally Posted by ~T~

Yeh soldier beetles, you see black ones too. Are these as common as they used to be? I don't see them much anymore. I feel really bad because as a kid my neighbour told me they were clegs and would bite me so I had to kill them. This went against my love for wildlife but at the same time I didn't want bitten so I did kill some. It wasn't until many years later I discovered my error

We thought they were called bloodsuckers because they are red.

[violaceus]

In this area there seems to be loads of soldier beetles this year, nettles are covered with them (most of them bonking!)