ID help needed

[GaryT]

Found this in the garden and can't find an ID in my book. Anyone know what this is. I think I've seen them here before. It was between 3/8"-1/2" long.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2472042270_cd60131888_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2323/2472041538_a716c4e9c2_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2075/2472040958_f355cc3977_b.jpg

[alliec]

That would be a Scarlet Lilly Beetle. Nice shots. Considered a pest here, i have been asked by the gardeners where i shoot to squash on sight. I cant bring myself to do that though;-)

[GaryT]

Thanks so much Alistair. Do they eat the palnts? Why are they pests? It's probably not too late to get it.

[alliec]

From what the gardeners told me they eat holes in the leaves, but if they get into the root systems of the plants they can destroy the entire plant. where i shoot has huge beds of lillys planted so they are quite concerned.