Orange and black bug in the garden - good or bad?

[Meganator]

Is there a good online reference for garden pests, with associated photos? I came home from vacation to find lots of a green and orange bug on my vegetables. I don't think it is eating them up, but I'm not sure. It is a more-or-less ladybug-looking bug; more dappled than spotted, ovalish in shape, and about twice as large as the average ladybug. I'm more than happy to have good bugs, but if this is a bad one, it is going to do a lot of damage because there seem to be quite a lot of them.

Thanks!
Megan

[clairea]

Is this what you have?


If so, those are Japanese beetles and you definitely want to get rid of them right away! Pick them off by hand and drop them in a container of soapy water, or spray your plants with insectisidal soap.

[Meganator]

No, that isn't it. The orange and black are more of a spotted pattern, and the legs are not distinct like that.

[gertdog]

Cucumber beetle, maybe?

Cucumber beetle photos

If so, they're bad news. They spread bacterial wilt, which decimated my zucchini and pumpkins last year.

[Meganator]

Cucumber beetle, maybe?

Cucumber beetle photos

If so, they're bad news. They spread bacterial wilt, which decimated my zucchini and pumpkins last year.

Hmm. Closer, but I don't think that is it. I hope not! I will have a closer look tonight. Maybe I can get a photo.

[ADM]

This site shows photos of, and describes, good and bad garden bugs:

http://vegipm.tamu.edu/imageindex.html

[Meganator]

After some internet searching, it could possibly be a Harlequin bug (NOT good), but I'm not sure. ETA - the previous post came up while I was typing...I will have a look there, too. Thanks!