By Groovyjan
Dorset,
United Kingdom 
Can anyone help? My astrantia is alive with a very thin orange/bronze beetle type insect. It is much thinner than a lilly beetle, but i've no idea what it is. If its not going to cause damage I'll leave it for the birds, but if it is I'll start controlling it. Any help gratefully received!
21 Jul, 2012
Answers
No, much more solid and shiny. They definately look like a beetle, thin , about 1/3rd.of an inch long with a black stripe at the end of their body. Sorry I can't supply photo, I really must learn how to do it......perhaps when winter comes and I can't get in the garden I'll sit and learn.
21 Jul, 2012
Will do a bit of research, see if I can come up with something, but obviously it'd be easier with a photo. At least I know they're not hovering in the air over the flowers, but presumably actually in and on the flowers...
21 Jul, 2012
Yes,sitting on the flowers, unfortunately they were also mating so I will have a lot more soon.
21 Jul, 2012
Could they be common red soldier beetles (rhagonycha fulva)
My Astrantia (and others) were covered in them last year. Please look at my question via the link below:
http://www.growsonyou.com/question/show/54062
If so, as you will read, they are friends :)
21 Jul, 2012
So glad you could put a picture on! That is exactly what they are. I had never seen them before, but now I know how good they are I am so glad they were mating! This time next year I will be taking orders for sharing them out.:)
Thank you both for your help, I really appreciate it.
22 Jul, 2012
Previous question
Any chance of a photo? Could they be hoverflies?
21 Jul, 2012