Red and Orange Beetles

Anyone familier with these little beauties? They are close to a collection of lilies and I am concerned that they are the dreaded lily beetle. Thanks for any help.

Yvonne

 

I am certainly no expert, but it could be Colorado Potato Beetle.

 

Certainly not an Asiatic lily beetle, and strongly resembles Colorado potato beetle, though the markings on the thorax look a little off. What is the plant these beetles are on?

 

Two coreopis c. moonbeam are covered in beetles and they are spreading to the alstroemeria next to the coreopis. I can't see any damage... yet. Should I pick them off? What damage could they cause?

 

Definitely not Colorado Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) - as its scientific name says, that has ten stripes ("decem linea") on its back; the mystery beetle only has 6 or 7.

 

Aha. Calligrapha californica subsp. coreopsivora (the last bit meaning "eater of Coreopsis").

I suppose you could pick them off and get rid of them.

 

Thanks, everyone, that's it. We went down to the garden with the magnifying glass, and the mystery is solved! Thanks Daniel and Michael.

Yvonne