Can anyone identify these insects?

Either the scarlet or red shoulder bug. Mix up a less expensive spray following the directions under red shoulder bug. It is as effective as insecticidal soap and much cheaper.

Wow, they're pretty!

I don't know much about pest control, but hopefully these guys are palatable to birds. You might consider setting up a bird feeder to attract some passerines to your yard. If the birds like these bugs, they'll be gone quite soon.

Glenn's right: scarlet plant bug, of the lopidea genus, also called mirid bug; these are nymphs, not adults.

http://www.dpughphoto.com/images/mirid%20bug%20nym...

http://bugguide.net/node/view/13882/bgimage

I'm afraid that birds won't eat them, since bright red usually means bad tasting and toxic. If they were good to eat, they would be camouflaged.

They insert their beaks into the plant to suck juices. Heavy infestations are said to cause buds to die, but often there is no significant damage.

If you need to control them, use insecticidal soap.

Judging from the fact that there are different sized individuals in the picture. I think they are bugs (Hemiptera) rather than beetles (Coleoptera). Other than that, I also have no idea.

My initial guess is a type of carrion beetle, but I could be completely wrong.

Check if there is decaying animal matter in your garden. Removing it should clear the beetles, if they are carrion beetles.

Otherwise, I haven't a clue.

Don't know, but they're quite attractive aren't they?

Let them eat a few leaves, they probably won't ruin your whole food crop.

It looks like a really big termite to me. Not likely to be poisonous, but might bite. If you mess with it.

scarlet plant bug