PLEASE HELP!! Horrible insects

[mycats]

I have literally thousands of insects in my garden. They are about the size of flies but they have a sort of reddish shell? they open their back/wings like ladybirds do. What they hell are they and can I get rid of them, they are making my skin crawl and I cant even go in my garden! They are all kinda hovering just about the grass. Honest to God, you would not believe how many of them there are!

[Clanad]

If they look like this: http://maroon.uchicago.edu/news/articles/2003/10/13/ladybug_imposters_in.php

then you're in for an unpleasant time. The Asian Beetle resembles Lady Bugs, but are much hardier. They can be killed with pesticides, but that method destroys other valuable insects as well... Problem we've experienced is they over-winter and re-emerge in the spring. They are harmless as far as crop or flower damage, but very much a nuisance. If you squash one, it emits a very unpleasant odor and the fluid will stain whatever the beetle was sitting on. Best of Luck!

[nickmo]

Hi mycats - contact the NHM - free to individual enquiry to identify insects: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/departments/entomology/insect-identification/index.html - maybe send a pic and they'll let you know what they are and possibly how to rid.

[honeyboo]

Hi mycats i think you have got ELYTRA SOLDIER BEETLES. They are a reddish brown colour and can fly i dont now how to do a thread to get a picture of them so just yahoo the name and see if its them or not cheers HoneyxXx

[mycats]

It's not that one Clanad thank God! It could be the one you mentioned Honey, it's hard to tell, I'll have to go outside and stun one of the bu**ers get a proper look lol

[nickmo]

Info here: http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/invertebrates_terrestrial_and_freshwater/Rhagonycha_fulva/more_info.html

('Elytra' are the wing cases). May be some info on web about ridding them but as they lay loads of eggs - it may be a problem...

[Lonnie]

mycats, what part of the country are you in, just so i'll know if to keep a lookout for them. Thanks.

[mycats]

I'm up in Scotland Lonnie

[Lonnie]

Thanks mycats, i'm close to the other end of the landmass, but i'll still keep a watch

[Ember]

Oh Heck I live in Scotland!!!