I'm glad the mystery is solved...a good group effort by all. By the way, grow power...just for the sake of YOU being correct...it's spelled "soldier", pronounced just like the military word. I 'd guess that they have that nickname because of the work they do controlling the 'enemy'. Ken...you've really seen lightning bugs, already? That's incredible. I haven't spotted any down here, yet. I'll have to sit outside tonight and see what I've been missing.

Looks like a lady bug, but both are actually good for eating pests like aphids. I feel your pain with the asian beetles congregating around the house come fall. Right now, they are on the soy beans, but once the farmers hack the soy beans down, all of those asian beetles get scattered and come looking for food and shelter. Joe

Hi Natasha. Great questions. My hope is that it is never bad enough that I need to use Bayer again! The active ingredient in it kills all sorts of beneficial bugs (and bees) too... and I really try my best not to use pesticides. If I only saw 12 or so in a hole I would feel really good about just using predator nematodes. I'm applying predator nematodes in about 2 weeks, then again in about a month. It is warm enough here to apply them now, but I just applied horticultural oil for the first time to some roses and citrus so I want to give that some time since the oil could smother the beneficial nematodes too. Have you gotten any rain in Phoenix? I think the reason why the nematodes didn't work that well in the fall for me is because the ground was just too dry. It needs to be wet in order for them to move around and get the grubs. At least 6 inches down. FINALLY after all the rain we have had it is wet about 6 inches down here now. If you're thinking about nematodes, I would say go for it! Just make sure to apply them when there has been some rain to make it easier on yourself and your water budget (that way you don't have to soak the soil in order to water them in). Good luck!

That is a flatfooted leaf bug. Here is a good link http://ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74168.html