Red Cardinal Beetles

[gardenwise]

I've found several red cardinal beetles crawling in my lounge lately and presume they have come from a plant. What can I do to get rid of them without destroying my plants?

[pastafreak]

I just googled them as I'd never heard of them...they only eat insects from what I read. So your plants should be safe.

[alavahalf]

The larvae have bad habits ...
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/red-for-danger-and-beware-the-larvae-gb5bv7xcl

[gardenwise]

Thank you, pastafreak. I will set them free when I find them, but don't want an infestation indoors !
Alavahalf: the article is about lily beetle - a very different beast, but thanks nyway.

[pastafreak]

They are rather pretty things...at least their colour makes them stand out.

[woofgang]

make sure they are red cardinal and not lily beetles

[Chipchopper]

Some beetles are specific to certain plants, I too was thinking lily beetle at first.
May I as what plants you have had in the house lately ?

[woofgang]

the other thing with lily beetles is that they will come indoors to lillies in pots or cut flowers. They might have been in the garden and come in through a window (they fly) rather than having been brought in on a plant.

[gardenwise]

They are definitely cardinal beetles, I have experience of lily beetles in the garden so know the difference. I bought a couple of house plants recently so they may have been in soil. Thank you for all the posts.