These beetles were a bit larger than ladybugs and congregated on a pomegranate branch in our hoophouse.
6-14-14--black-beetleI put a little bucket under the branch and they easily fell into it and then I just threw them out.   The next day I found another cluster and the largest beetle had a red dot on the back.
Here’s a page with lots of beetle pictures, but I can’t really tell what they are, wish I’d gotten a better picture.