Black and yellow beetle ID :: Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus - Goldenrod Soldier Beetle

Sigh. Yet another bug in my garden looking like it's possibly bad. I confess I killed a dozen of them, including my photography model. I hate killing unknown bugs, but I didn't want to give them time to get a toehold.
On a bed with amaranth, daikon radishes and butternut squash.

And I started a thread asking for a good bug ID book, please read that one if you might know of one. Insect Identification Guide needed

Hm. Sideways picture. I might fix it later, don't really have time to do cleanup on it.

Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus - Goldenrod Soldier Beetle

goldenrod soldier beetle. Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus. i don’t think they’re bad.

audubon or peterson’s are probably my top ID book suggestions.

Thank you Greg!!

BugGuide.net Chauliognathus pensylvanicus - Goldenrod Soldier Beetle
Dave's Garden  What's that Bug? Chauliognathus pensylvanicus: the Soldier Beetle

and crap.  

Food
Adult: pollen and nectar of fall flowers, esp. goldenrod (Solidago)(2); larvae feed on locust eggs, insect larvae, cucumber beetles, and other Diabrotica spp.(3)

The larvae are also good guys. They can be found in leaf litter and soil, where they overwinter in rotten trees, loose bark and forest floors. They feed on caterpillars, soft-bodied insects, grubs, corn earworms, other larvae and grasshopper eggs, making them pint-sized heroes in my book.

That's why I didn't want to kill them, they are eating the things I want eaten. :(
Won't kill any more of them. I sorrow for the dozen I slaughtered :(

for what it’s worth,  it’s looking like the larvae of a different species of soldier beetle is actually a pest of some of my crops…but i think that one should be okay.