They look like stinkbug nymphs to me. Hopefully someone else can confirm it for sure.
Susan

These look very similar:

Here is a link that might be useful: SB nymphs

Those beetles have very distinctive markings and it's interesting that they seem to be in different stages of maturity. I quickly scrolled through a bug site and didn't see that exact patterning on a beetle, but I bet the experts on the insect forum could nail them in a second.

Here is a link that might be useful: GW Insect Forum ...

They are stinkbug nymphs.

Here is a link that might be useful: Southern Green Stink Bug

Oh no!!! There are TONS of them and not too far from my precious tomatoes!! If the winds ever die down, me and some orange oil are gonna be busy!!
Thanks so much for the ID, I looked around online yesterday and didn't find a match, so thanks so very much!!

Hello, friends in Texas. Roselee asked me to take a look at that VERY scary picture to see if I might be able to make an ID. I am very sorry to say that these are the nymphs of the (dreaded) Brown Marmorated Stinkbug. This insect has reached extremely high populations in many locations in this country....and are one of the few stinkbugs that seem to end up inside the home, in droves.

Like many insect nymphs and larvae, these go though several molting stages (called instars) before they will reach their full adult ugliness. Each instar is a little different in appearance than the one before. That explains the differences in the critters.

Stinkbugs, by the way, belong to the group commonly called 'True Bugs', and are not related to beetles. Some true bugs are beneficial, while others a real pests.

I'll go back to Alabama, now. ;-)

Thank you Rhizo for the quick reply.

THANK YOU roselee for tracking down rhizo and getting me in the right direction (and of course, THANK YOU rhizo!!) after freaking out, I loaded up with soapy water in a spray bottle and went and dug up where I found the nasty rascals yesterday and managed to kill alot! I am sure I missed some, but I will be frequenting the beds, especially in that area to try and keep them from breeding any further!!
Thanks again SO very much!! :)

Found this in my bug book last night and looked up the Predaceous Stink Bug which is a predator bug. If this is the right bug, it's a friend.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Lavernialadybug, the markings match better than the other IDs. I'm really curious now. It looks like this is going to take some research!

Ok that was icky and kind of facinating at the same time.

I did a little looking around at stink bug nymph photos on the internet and it looks like Ladybugfruit's photo above is of the baby good guys, the Predaceous stink bug. They also match the picture of the Predaceous nymph photos in my 'Texas Bug Book' by Malcolm Beck and John Howard Garrett. By the way, it's a great book that I've had for years and that I'm reading again.

It seems that all or most stink bug nymphs are red and black, but with different patterning. Because of the color it's easy to get them mixed up. Plus not all photos on the internet are correct if we are to believe Beck and Garret and the majority of the internet pictures.

The Texas Bug Book says this about the Predaceous stink Bug:

"Predator of Colorado potato beetle, bean beetle, corn earworm and moth, asparagus beetle, and cabbage looper. Nymph will devour Colorado potato beetle eggs. Larger nymphs and larve eat the larve [of Colorado potato beetles]."

Lavernialadybug, thanks for what seems to be the correct ID. And thanks Ladybugfruit for taking the pictures which brought this bug to our attention.

Who among us hasn't killed one (or many) of the good guys thinking it was a pest or pulled up a good plant we thought was a weed. We live and learn. The mama Predaceous stink bug will probably lay some more eggs. Beck and Garrett say there are two or three generations a year.

Happy gardening!

Is it just me or do all these little beetle things look just alike? I have some too. Thanks for the info.