A Pox on You

Well at least the plague. Well not even that. How about Plague Soldier Beetles (Chauliognathus lugubris)? The term ‘plague’ does not stem from the fact that they spread disease rather than, for reasons unknown, in early autumn they appear in swarms of vast numbers, usually copulating.

The adult insect is omnivorous, feeding on other insects and the nectar of plants. The sheer number of beetles makes you wonder whether any of the vegetation will remain when the beetles go, but the only danger to plants is sometimes weighing them down to the point of breaking.

When swarming, the beetles appear less interested in the food and more interested in mating.

I know some people like that.