ID this bug please

What kind of bug is this? I'm hoping it's beneficial, because I see lots of them - mainly on my sunflowers, corn, and asparagus.

I have decided it is a common red soldier beetle
http://bugguide.net/node/view/89507

Adults eat insects; and I've noticed that the leafhoppers quickly disappear once the solider beetles arrive ... so I count them as beneficials.

Thanks Patrick, that's good to know as I have some of those too in my garden. I'll smile at them the next time I see one