Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: orange, black, white lady bug size BEETLE ID?, 0 by wind

wind wrote:
We have a recent infestation of this beetle ~ the size of a lady bug on all our peppers and even some cleome. I looked up ladybird beetle photos and could not find an id for this one. Any ideas of what it is? I noticed as it grows the white markings diminish and seem to be only on the side and the size increases too; transforming a bit out of the sphere shape to more of a shield shape. This is a photo of a young one I believe