HOGWEED BONKING BEETLES

This is one of the names of the common soldier beetle Rhagonycha fulva.  They spend a lot of time on hogweed flowers partly to feed and partly to mate.  They don't necessarily mate more than other beetles but it does take a long time apparently.  So you will often find them in pairs.  

They are also called bloodsuckers but quite wrongly.  Although harmless to humans they do feed on other insects especially aphids, who visit the hogweed and other flowers where they sit.  And they also like pollen and nectar.

And why 'soldier beetles?  They are part of a 40-strong group of beetles in Britain, with bright military style colours.  Rhagonycha beetles are reddish orange on the head except for black eyes and antennae.  The wing cases or 'elytra' are a more yellowy orange with a black tip at the back.  The feet are also black but a tiny bit hard to see ! !

They are good flyers and whizz about in search of more food.  They will even attack those black and yellow cinnabar moth caterpillars on ragwort.

Rhagonycha larva photo: bugguide.net

The brown larvae are also the gardener's friend, feeding at ground level on insects, slugs and snails.