Hello Sharon,

Check out the link on Lily Beetles.
If the beetles you saw match, I would recommend going on kill frenzy mode.
These pests have been spreading out of eastern Canada and do lots of damage to the plants they attack.

On the link, page down to see a photo.

Ian

Here is a link that might be useful: Lily beetle link

Check out red turnip beetle...

Here is a link that might be useful: Insects of Alberta

Thank goodness its not a Lily Beetle Ian, I'm well aware of the damage those buggers can do and hopefully they'll never come this far to the west.

Lori, I assume youÂre correct about the red turnip beetle, I will have to take a closer examination as I don't recall the three distinct black bands running down their backs, only a stripe down the middle... I don't grow turnips, but do grow ornamental kale, no damage that I can see thus far.

I'm sure they walked over from the previous canola field from last year as this website suggest....they were also mating on a Aubrieta plant.
http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/turnipbeetle.htm

btw, what a great website on insects of Alberta! Thnxs I've got it bookmarked.

Sharon