Stay Away from my Tomato Plant! by taffy

Stay Away from my Tomato Plant!

Following my fail with the eagle (in extras album) this morning, I was attending to my tomato plants when I spotted this creature curled up in one of the leaves. I carefully cut the leaf off to get him away from the plant and ran up to get my macro (remembering to check the settings this time!). The critter entertained me for awhile - no idea what it is and hope there aren't more bothering the plants!
They have bird and flower and fish and animal guides, they need critter guides! He is amazing looking!
August 20th, 2017  
Like the coloring of this bug but hope he doesn't have a big family living near your tomato plants!
August 20th, 2017  
Oh no - he looks a dangerous creature to have hiding in the foliage! Great portrait of him though.
August 20th, 2017  
nice macro photo, good lighting and colour
August 20th, 2017  
adorbs
August 20th, 2017  
Took a look through my bug book but didn't see anything like him. But if you found him curled up in the leaves, it's almost certain that what was going to hatch would be eating them. Might be time to look into a eco-safe bug repellent for your tomatoes.
August 20th, 2017  
He (it?) looks as though he is testing the waters, touching that little leaf. Brilliant colors and focus.
August 20th, 2017  
Looks like the advance party to me. Definitely does not have the welfare of your tomatoes foremost in mind. Some non-toxic deterrent is in order asap.
August 20th, 2017  
Lovely macro details and fascinating little bug, definitely wouldn't want on my tomatoes though.
August 20th, 2017  
Cute one, well captured. For me this looks like a stage of larvae of a lady bug. So do not panic. They eat plant lice and aphids,... and imho are beneficary insects.
August 20th, 2017  
Fabulous shot, I would also have wanted to get rid it asap! Good that Mona knows what it is.
August 20th, 2017  
It looks like the larvae of the harlequin ladybird, I don't think they're harmful to your tomatoes! Great shot.
August 20th, 2017  
It's a Ladybird larvae , it amazes me how this critter turns into the Ladybird we all know and love . great shot of him it is too
August 20th, 2017  
Brilliant shot - fav!
August 20th, 2017  
Ditto on the lady bird larvae, this is a good guy!
August 20th, 2017  
That's amazing to find out this is a ladybird larvae! That's a relief knowing he won't harm the tomato plants! Great macro Taffy! Fav!
August 20th, 2017  
A wonderful capture , and great info by your 365 family !
August 20th, 2017  
What a lovely capture. Reading the feed, I agree this is ladybird larvae. Excellent shot.
August 20th, 2017  
How interesting to find this identified as a lady-bird larvae! Seems an amazing transformation. Thanks to your great photo we now know what to look for. Cheers
August 20th, 2017  
Beautiful macro shot :)
August 20th, 2017  
Fav. Excellent macro capture. Love the pose of the caterpillar.
August 20th, 2017  
Great details, wonderful image
August 20th, 2017  
Interesting to see the comments above. I guess your tomatoes will be safe, but I read that they are quite cannibalistic and eat other insects.
August 20th, 2017  
Wow! Glad for all the insect knowledge here. It would have been sad to have found non toxic way to get rid of such a gift and found out afterwards that it was to be a lady bug! Beautiful capture
August 20th, 2017  
Wow, great dof and details. I hope he doesn't hurt your tomato plant.
August 20th, 2017  
Nice find and neat macro. He is the larva of a Harlequin Ladybird ( Harmonia axyridis), I think you call them Ladybugs. They love to eat aphids, so he won't do your tomatoes any harm at all.
He is an artificially introduced species into the USA to control aphids and scale insects, and they are spreading across the country quite rapidly.
They are also invading the UK, and there is some concern that they might be causing a problem with some of our native species of Ladybird as the Harlequin will eat the larva of the local ones.
August 20th, 2017  
Oh, lovely image, and I'd have removed him from your tomato too! However, how very interesting to read Mark's explanation!
August 20th, 2017  
Wow...super details in this great close up
August 20th, 2017  
This is a friendly bug!! As @markp says so well, its a ladybird larvae so no problem for your tomatoes!
August 20th, 2017  
A super detailed capture. Fav!! 😀
August 20th, 2017  
Kas
Fantastic detail. Great shot.
August 20th, 2017  
Just love this little bug's stance! He looks like he is about to conduct the orchestra!
August 20th, 2017  
Great DoF & colours. Love the reflection underneath him.
August 20th, 2017  
Nice macro.
August 20th, 2017  
I'm so pleased he turns out to be a good guy as he does look kind of friendly. But perhaps that is a guise, as I too remember reading about the Harlequin ladybirds and how they are a threat to more local varients. You have created an excellent portrait and I like the gentle reflections of him and the leaf in your photo.
August 20th, 2017  
Cool macro
August 21st, 2017  
Excellent DoF. Looks can be deceiving, he/she does look a bit ominous.
August 21st, 2017  
Fantastic colour and detail, your eye for these tiny creatures is amazing.
August 21st, 2017  
Awesome details!
August 21st, 2017  
Wonderful macro - fab detail.
August 21st, 2017  
Fantastic capture - fav
August 21st, 2017  
Stellar clarity!
August 21st, 2017  
He looks rather evil - glad you managed to keep him away from your tomatoes
August 21st, 2017  
Great capture
August 21st, 2017  
Wow love the detail, cool looking critter!
August 21st, 2017  
Wonderful macro! I think it's a lady bug larvae too.
August 21st, 2017  
Definitely a ladybird larvae. I only found this out when I photographed one a few years ago and wondered what it was. Cool shot too xx
August 21st, 2017  
It makes a great image though :-)
August 21st, 2017  
So glad to see it's a good one!
August 22nd, 2017  
wonderful capture of this creepy looking thing!
August 22nd, 2017  
Your macro series are wonderful 💕
August 23rd, 2017  
What a great macro photo and such a cool looking insect or worm. Not wanted on tomato plants at all. Really well done photo. Amazing. FAV
August 24th, 2017  
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