(https://dl.dropbox.com/u/72984436/IMAG0257.jpg)
These are all over my lilies, as are lots of holes in the leaves.
Any idea what they are or what can be done about them?
These are lily beetles and they are a pest. I use tweezers very carefully as if they are disturbed they turn upside down in the soil and are just invisible. Put a container under them and use the tweezers, sometimes you can get two at a time as they always seem to be mating.
Their eggs look like dirty grey bird droppings so wipe the leaves with tissue to remove them. Or you could use a systemic bug killer but this can affect beneficial insects.
Dunno what good it will do but the RHS are still monitoring the spread of these little guys and have a form for reporting infestations on their website. Shame they're such nuiscences to ornamental growers, they're beautiful beetles. Found one on a potato plant last month. Really striking.
Still, invasive species. Likely no natural predators. Might as well break out the insecticide and give them something to think about.
(edit) Here: http://www.rhs.org.uk/Science/Plant-pests/Lily-beetle (http://www.rhs.org.uk/Science/Plant-pests/Lily-beetle)
I check my lilies every morning for these and usually find one or two each day - although in the last week or so I haven't found any.
I pick them off and squash them but, as queenbee mentioned, make sure you have something underneath to catch them (other hand/pot/container/etc) because they will just drop to the ground when you touch the leaf they're on.
Sticks, could the red beetle on your potatoes have been a cardinal beetle? These a very beneficial insects. they are bright red but with a smooth shell as opposed to the lily beetle which has lots of dimples on its shell. Lily beetles only go for lilacious plants it is really important to know the difference. Look on the internet and there really is not mistaking them.
Definitely lily beetles and they look like they are having a bit of a passion-session after a nice meal! Get the little buggers fast! Catch them as they drop (newspaper always worked for me and easily swept up, emphatically stomped on and them added to the compost heap or burnt (if I felt particularly vindictive!).