Maybe ladybug larvae?

I was looking for this too and I think it's called Boxelder Bugs and Red-Shouldered Bugs. I've had an issue with them this year too and can't seem to get rid of the pests.

Where are you from Danielle? If you're from Canada, there's information on

pestcontrolcanada.com/INSECTS/box_elder_bugs.htm

The only thing I've ever called a boxelder bug, is a maple bug, and that's not the insects that I had. Fortunately, I never found them on my plants and whatever they were, they didn't come back this year.

So they weren't ladybug larvae?

Northspruce. No they weren't. I wish they had been. The more of the ladies the better.

I never did find them lurking on any of the plants, just on the outside of the house, and I didn't have them last year.

I've ordered a Rodale's book called The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Pest and Disease Control, and it apparently has pictures of insects, so if I'm lucky I'll be able to identify it just for curiosity sake now.

Oh, BTW, was it you that suggested the book Caring for Perennials - What to Do and When to Do It? I have it on order =:) If I keep this up we're going to need another room in the house.

www.bugguide.net is the best website EVER but it's time consuming to find anything, especially without the varmint in front of you.

Wasn't me who suggested the book but it sounds good! Enjoy.

Seems I forgot about this question from 2009.

Thanks for the website. I looked at hundreds of beetles, etc., and still haven't found it.

Great website to keep on my list though =:) Thanks!

Was it dangerous and did it bite? I saw the exact bug you described when letting my dogs on the porch this morning. I was afraid so I took them back in the house.