Oh, now THAT is different.

It may not have been a new plant to try but it sure is different.

Something I certainly have never seen before anyway.

Have you seen this before?

photo property of UF

It is shiny and teeny tiny. I thought it was a little ring of eggs and went to squish it with my finger... and it FLEW OFF!

I guess this little guy (Gal?) is known as a gold bug and is actually pretty rare. At least around here. Well, I certainly had never encountered a beauty like this. Turns out that the shimmery gold tone can change almost instantly to look just like a lady beetle if s/he is frightened. Mimicking a ladybug is a good thing I suppose. A gardener wouldn't want to lose pest defense, and other bugs avoid them after all.

I couldn't find much other information about the bug though. That is to say besides it's main diet. It likes morning glory vines. I do remember mentioning yesterday that the morning glory and the sweet potato were closely related. Can you guess where I found this bug?

Yup. The underside of a sweet potato leaf. Turns out it is a scarab. It's name is the Golden Tortoise Beetle. Big name for a beetle that when full grown is smaller than a ladybug. I know it certainly caught my eye and I'll be ont he look out for more now. They aren't supposed to be a nuisance due to not being in great numbers. I hope that holds true because it would be hard to kill something that pretty. I do hope to see another and if I do I believe I'll try to capture it. I could spare a few leaves for my children to observe him/her for a few days. I think this is one science lesson that needs taught hands on!

Sure hope it flies back. But, I don't hope it has a mate...

'Till next time!

Barbie~