Friend or Foe?

[zzmanor]

Does anyone recognize this beetle?

[url]https://picasaweb.google.com/zzmanor/Beetle[/url]

I have many of them around my house, mostly nearby the vegetables on the deck, and I wonder if they are good for the veggies (e.g., if they eat aphids) or if they are about to eat them before I get a chance to. They are very sluggish and don't seem to be bothered by humans.

While we are at it, a similar question about these tiny worms that appeared on my front porch a couple of days ago, weaved busily for about a day, and seem dormant since. Good? bad?

[url]https://picasaweb.google.com/zzmanor/Worms[/url]
(I couldn't zoom in enough to show the details, but hopefully, someone will recognize them).

Thanks!

[Jess]

Looks like a type of shieldbug or stinkbug. Not good but limited damage so not terrible either.

[opabinia51]

I concur. And if memory serves, stinkbugs are not beetles but rather true bugs which I believe is in the order Hemiptera.

I haven't had any massive infestations of stink bugs and really enjoy it when I find them. But, they can cause problems in large numbers.