If you met this guy down a dark alley on a moonless night you’d walk right on past. In fact if he was right in front of your eyes you’d still be pressed to notice him. This little creature is tiny, tiny, tiny at a mere 2mm across.

I first noticed this little fellow after I plucked some leaves from one of our trees to try and identify the tree species. I then noticed a white salty looking patch with a little grey blob in the middle. On close inspection it appears to be an insect in its pupal stage of development. The white powdery substance covering the pupa and surrounding leaf is most likely some toxic secretion for protection.

For now I have no idea what this guy is but will do my best to find out.

… Newsflash: It’s a Yellow Shouldered Ladybird Apolinus lividigaster (synonym Scymnodes lividigaster) FAMILY COCCINELLIDAE

Photo: Robert Rath, ‘366 Days of 2012, Day 40 – Little Creature’. 13 secs at 100mm+Ext20mm (macro) f/22, ISO 400