I, too, get disturbed by drowning the many beetles. When picking them off one by one, I quickly decapitate them with my thumbnail, thinking this is a merciful death - but it's not practical where there are dozens. I don't hold it against the beetles - it's not their fault they got transplanted here. People are. They're just doing what they do, as are all the other critters nibbling on my plants. They all deserve as merciful a death as possible... but alas, I cannot always give it. But when it comes to choosing between bugs and plants... it's pretty easy.