Ahhh... roaches?

Nope. They're not roaches. They are "rounder" than roaches. I looked at all the beetle pictures on www.whatsthatbug.com. They look like japanese beetles without the spots. The description of japanese beetles says they are green, but the pictures always look brick red - like the beetles I dug up. They're dead now, anyways... I put them in a bowl and they went belly-up this afternoon. I'd still like to know what they are, though. I'm sure there are more down there and I hope they don't eat my stuff!

Could they be Masked Chafer beetles? The larvae (a white grub) of these guys typically feed on underground plant parts, especially turf.

Here is a link that might be useful: Masked Chafer beetles

Just so long as they're neither Paul nor Ringo - they're getting kind of endangered, these days.

Pagancat - those are Beatles, not beetles! :-)

Aztreelvr - Those are them! Mine are redder, but it could be the photograph. Everything else about them looks exactly the same. So, do I need to worry? And, if I should worry, is there anything I can do about them? If there's nothing I can do, should I still worry, or go on with my life as if I didn't know they existed - like I did day before yesterday, before I knew they existed? The site says to irrigate and fertilize. I'm getting better at that. Maybe, they'll leave?

The adult beetles you found don't do any damage to plants. It's their larvae or grubs that do the munching. If you dig up more than about six white grubs per square foot, control may be needed. Choose selective, least toxic, IPM-compatible products whenever possible. The microbial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis and insect-killing nematode products that can be applied like insecticides have minimal negative impacts on nontarget organisms. The insecticides azadirachtin, pyrethrum (pyrethrins), and imidacloprid (Bayer Advanced Lawn Grub Control, GrubEx, etc.) are also relatively safe products. Each of these products is effective only on certain pests and all must be properly timed and applied to be effective.

You'll want to apply the product you choose when the larvae or emerging adults are close to the surface of the soil. Adults emerge from the soil June through early August appearing about dusk and are attracted to porch lights. Eggs usually are laid in the top 2 inches of soil. The developing grubs will reach the final instar (third) in late summer and early fall. Most damage to roots is done in September and early October when the grubs are full-sized (about an inch long) and feeding vigorously. Feeding continues until cooling temperatures force the grubs to migrate 5 to 10 inches deep in the soil to hibernate.

By late March, overwintering third-instar grubs begin migrating upward near the soil surface to feed. They continue feeding on roots (especially grass) and organic matter until May, then move back deeper into the soil to pupate.

Be sure to follow label directions exactly on whatever product you decide to use.

Thank you, very much, Aztreelvr! I only found the two beetles. I found a lot of earthworms and maybe a couple of what might have been grubs? Not a lot anyway. I think I'm o.k. so far, but thank you, again, for the wonderful information. I hope I never need it, but I glad to know - just in case!