Quote Originally Posted by the image reaper
found what I was looking for: ... they aren't 'japanese beetles', as I previously called them, they are 'Asian Lady Beetles' ... here's some info and pic ... note while pictured one is yellow, they also appear as red or deep-orange ... the deep orange ones, on my friend's Illinois farm, stripped all the bushes and trees, to nothing ... not to alarm, just be aware ... they look a lot like plain old harmless ladybugs ...

" Description
The Asian lady (ladybug) beetle is approximately 1/3 inch in length and semispherical or dome-shaped. They vary from yellowish-orange to red; DEEP ORANGE is the most common color. There are 19 black spots on the back that vary in darkness among individuals. The spots may be faint or missing on some beetles. There is a black "W" shaped mark on the thorax. "
Dat mo' betta, IR.
Had me going there.

I know from Japanese beetles, they are much larger, iridescent, gold n green, and will clusterpluck yer favorite plants to the bone. They no bite, but they do "pinch"

Real Ladybugs don't eat yer garden, or bite.
We have a Hawaiian variety that has a black shell and bright orange eye patches.
Jus' went out to get a pic.
Fat chance, they saw the camera an' split!

Considerin' all the variation in color an' spots of the mimics though, prolly the best way to tell 'em apart, is to just look for toothmarks.

Good call, I.R.!

Weezard