The body is elongate, soft and somewhat flattened and the sides are nearly parallel. They range from 1/3 to 1/2 inch. The legs and antenna are long and slender. The antenna is somewhat saw-toothed. The elytra loosely cover the abdomen. The head is visible from above. They are yellow with black markings on the elytra. There is a round black spot on the pronotum.
Occurs on goldenrods and thoroughworts in the east in the fall. The pictures shown were taken in the wildflower garden in front of the nature center. Larvae live mostly in leaf-litter; under stones, logs, and other debris or in decaying wood. Pupation occurs in spring in the soil. The Eggs are deposited in soil or leaf litter.
Soldier beetles are also known as leatherwings. They fly well and are valuable pollinators in addition, many in this family eat aphids and other insects. Adults can be confused with many other beetles some of which mimic them. Adults and larvae have glands at the rear of the abdomen that secrete defensive chemicals. The larvae prey on eggs and larvae of other insects. This is perhaps the most easily observed soldier beetle in eastern and central N. America.
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