I have these - Cardinal Beetles. They eat other insects and are good for the garden: you sure it was munching the leaf and not something on it?

the tip was munched and it walked forwards so perhaps it was munching a pest. its wonderful.
when I first saw it I had a thought of lily beetle on steroids :o)

A much duller red than the lily beetle.

think it could be a Cardinal Beetle, think they are do gooders though.

Or in old speak - a blood sucker.

I've had a nosey on the web and this is the common red headed cardinal beetle. overwinters in wood/behind bark. So lots of spaces for it to overwinter.

A nice find Seaburngirl! They do eat Vine Weevil and Black/Greenfly so am a fan of them.