grannysgarden said:Evelyn, see if you can get one in a jar and take it to your extension office. They will either ID it for you or find someone who can. You will find out its life cycle, what its purpose is and how to eradicate it. Good luck.
TBMan said:those are Malachite Flower Beetles -- a voracious pest of virtually anything blooming. Be careful of handling them -- they can spray an irritating acid on your hands if not protected. They are difficult to control, aside from knocking them off or picking them off. I've had some luck with Japanese beetle traps, but only some.
Aside from identifying them, I haven't had much luck in controlling them.