But this bug is crawling around in the dirt, is red with a black geometric pattern on back, looks like a cross between an ant and a beetle, they mate and walk around hooked together a lot. Seem to inhabit same areas as red ants. I am in southern calif in the riverside county area, if that helps. They are about the same size as a common red ant
Thanks I can't figure out how to upload a picture sorry

My first thought is the boxelder beetle, but they get larger than you describe.

Image Search Results (http://www.goodsearch.com/searchimage.aspx?keywords=Boxelder+beetles)

Possibly what are called "love bugs"

Image Search Results (http://www.goodsearch.com/searchimage.aspx?keywords=love+bugs)

It is bright red, does not appear to be segmented, more flat looking, they hook up rear to rear and walk around like that for a long time, there is maybe one black pattern on the body sometimes 2, this is the first year I have ever seen them and I have lived here 25 years. I looked up boxelder beetle but they are smaller and way brighter red. I am going to try one more time for a usable picture. I have search the internet but so far no luck.
Thank you

OK, looked up love bugs, not them either by the pictures I saw, there are no visible wings on these red guys here.

Did you try the links I posted? They've got some pretty decent pictures. You said they were about the same size as an ant; by and large adult boxelder beetles run about half an inch long. How big are your common red ants?

I am guessing between 1/4 and 1/2 inch long. I have spent hours looking at beetle pics but the sheer number of species is overwhelming!!

I'm still inclined toward boxelder beetles. Quite often they maintain the red coloration until full maturity, they can breed before then, and their wings are not really visible until fully mature.

Thank you, I have never seen any pics of immature boxelder beetles

Try this website. They have some decent photos.

Boxelder and Redshouldered Bugs (http://entoplp.okstate.edu/ddd/insects/boxelder.htm)

Finally I got a decent pic of them, and even though the color is not the same the pattern is identical, it is the box elder beetle. Thank you so much. I am going to try to attach a pic of them to this so you can see what I mean about the bright red. Well, that did not work, but again, thank you so much. Do you have anywhere I could send the pic to you so you could see, or I could send you my email addy? I don't know how this works exactly

do you have anywhere i could send the pic to you so you could see, or i could send you my email addy? i dont know how this works exactly

If you can save the pic on your computer, there is an attachment icon that looks like a paperclip above the message box. Click on it and a window will open to let you find and attach your pics.

I have tried several times to do that, it keeps giving me a failure mesg. Thanks anyway for all your help

Sorry, I know bugs, not computers.

OK, one more question: is a milkweed bug the same thing? I found pictures that look just like the ones crawling around here, but they were called milkweed bugs. They even had a picture of them doing the stuck together mating thing.

I don't think they're the same species, but they do look like the same genus.

Image Search Results (http://www.goodsearch.com/searchimage.aspx?keywords=milkweed+bug)

Thank you

'Red bug' makes first American appearance — in O.C. - Green OC - OCRegister.com (http://greenoc.freedomblogging.com/2009/08/03/red-bug-makes-first-american-appearance-in-oc/11179/#comment-3675)


This link goes to an article that has perfect pictures of them. Seems to be something new to southern calif. Creepy. How do they get so widespead in one year? I am at least 60 to 70 miles from the coastal sightings.

Should I use pesticide?

I'd place a call to the scientists in the article. They might come collect them for free.

I mailed them some per their request I guess I am the furthermost sighting of them so far, that has been reported. Thank you for your help

You might ask them about control measures, as this is an immigrant insect. I would consider a garden dust such as Sevin@ if you have to go to insecticides.

I think that is the bug that we called diesel bugs in Texas because they were always on the grill guard of semi trucks. I never knew their real name though