Chauliognathus lugubris, the plague soldier beetle, green soldier beetle or banana bug,[1] is a species of soldier beetle (Cantharidae) native to Australia.[2] It has a flattened body to Шаблон:Convert long with a prominent yellow-orange stripe behind the black prothorax.[3] The abdomen is yellow-orange but is mostly obscured by the metallic olive green elytra.[3]
Plague soldier beetles are most common in spring and early summer, and have an adult lifespan of 2-3 months.[4] They are most commonly found in the temperate region of southeast Australia,[5] and are occasionally found in parts of the southwest.[6]
The beetles often swarm in large, localised groups around flora such as shrubs and trees, primarily to mate and eat.[3][5][7] These swarms can include hundreds of thousands of beetles.[8]
As adults, plague soldier beetles are thought to feed on pollen and nectar.[5] While in their larval stage, plague soldier beetles live in soil and are thought to feed on smaller, soft-shelled invertebrates.[5][9]
