What a really clear picture John.

To be honest Myron, I knocked the beetle into my close up lens case and photographed the her on the garden table.....as it was a good beetle (photographically speaking) I had not the heart to kill it so I took it for a walk about 200 yards from the house and let it free! Am I an old softy or what?

Yes it is but I'd also liked to have seen the little beggar squished.... Shoot me dead I don't feel guilty.......
Sorry John we crossed over, its me I have an aversion to them, I used to throw snails over the fence but stopped when they showed the way into my garden to millions of relatives so now they also get the order of the boot, lol....

Well John, you must have got real close-up to know that it was a she, LOL.

is there a natural predator to this bug?(oh and nice photography):)

The only nice beetle is a dead beetle. I also used to throw snails over the fence Linclass and I also thought that they came back with a vengence. It is a really good photo though, horrible looking beasties.

Its probably flown straight back to its family on your lilies and is munching away!

Funny you should say that Cammomile......I did squash 6 on my two lily plants on Sunday....i think they are hard to get rid off apart from taking off and squashing between the finger and thumb.....at least it is a quick death.

Crafty beggars flip themselves over onto their backs so its not easy to spot them when they fall, best thing is to have a container handy and flick them into it, I shudder at the thoughts of squishing them by hand.....

Diane89, I hope you were only referring to lily beetles - some beetles are goodies.