Unknown Red and Black beetles

[fishman10]

I was walking the backyard yesterday trying to find something to photograph and came across these red and black beetles. There were hundreds of them in a single 1 square foot area. I have no idea what kind they are.

Pictures
Unknown Red and Black Beetles (http://www.gather.com/viewSlideshow.action?albumId=35947)

video
Red and black bugs - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBMKk6HeFq0)

[marvelfreak]

I don't know what kind they are, but dam they are cool looking.

[exwizard]

I don't know what kind they are, but dam they are cool looking.

^^^^what he said :p^^^^

[CK SandBoas]

Those beetles are awesome!!! Kinda reminds me of LadyBugs, just with a really unusual pattern:D

[Wolfus_305]

Those are soooo cool! not a clue what they are though

[Pareeeee]

Those are not beetles. They are a nymph (immature) 'true bug' of some type - not sure of the species but we have them here as well. Now I'm gonna have to get my insect books out!

[Pareeeee]

Found it! I knew I'd seen them before. They are a type of 'true bug' called the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug. They are an invasive species.

Adult looks like this:
http://www.hgic.umd.edu/_media/client/bmsb_female_l.jpg

Nymphs (young) are considerably more striking in appearance: http://www.hgic.umd.edu/content/images/stinkbugeggsnymphs.jpg

Photos found on this site: HGIC - Invasive Species: Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (http://www.hgic.umd.edu/content/brownstinkbug.cfm)

[Wolfus_305]

ohhh that's cool. I thought they looked kinda like stinkbugs but I'd never seen them that colour, the nymph stage explains that