Perhaps box elder bugs? If so, a nuisance rather than damagers.

Beetles? Beetles are not gross. Not hardly. Now if you had thousands of slugs ... that would be gross.

Ladybugs congregate in large numbers this time of year, looking for overwintering space. But surely you know what ladybugs look like. Ladybugs are beneficial insects.

Box elder bugs are another possibility. Not as familiar as ladybugs. Black and red, but long instead of round. Still not gross, and not doing any harm.

Don't try to kill them until you know what they are, and what damage they're doing.

You guys got it! I'm convinced they're boxelder bugs, so i'm just going to leave them alone. For some reason, there are HUGE numbers of them this year, and i found it quite alarming at first. But the garden foliage looks fine, and i just read that they won't reproduce inside should they get it (as a few have).

So i'm letting nature take it's course! Thanks guys!

I have no idea what they are, but I have an infestation of spiders. They are crawling in my yard (Astoria) by the millions and all heading for the house. While I generally like spiders they are messy as hell and have already covered the outside of my house and I am planning my campaign to rid myself of the excess. Any ideas on a relatively good method without an overabundance of pesticides?