Wow, great post.

I love that you contacted the photographer for permission and posted his amiable response.

I am always suspicious of the orange beetles. Could be the Japanese Lady Beetles. They still eat aphids, but also leaves if they get hungry. They can reproduce so fast it makes the rabbits blush.

https://www.abchomeandcommercial.com/blog/asian-beetle-vs-ladybug/

True ladybugs are true red with black spots.