I have a few of these guys in my garden - i swear they look like they're eating my plants but I want to know before I do anything. Anyway, the internet has got one stock photo of them and I can't find their name - I know not very much about bugs yet and don't have a bug ID book. help would be super appreciated!

It is an aphid, common pest, can cause lots or little damage depending on the plant species, number of aphids, weather, recurring fungi in the area etc.

No, sorry, I know aphids well- here is a picture of the guy now that he is larger.

I wonder if it's a speckled bush cricket. Female, if that's a ovipositor I see in the last photo
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik...

Oh wow, I think that's an ID... or at least she's some kind of bush cricket. Thanks a ton!

You're welcome! for the acorn.

sprep said: No, sorry, I know aphids well- here is a picture of the guy now that he is larger.

It fooled me.

NMoasis said: I wonder if it's a speckled bush cricket. Female, if that's a ovipositor I see in the last photo
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wik...

Isn't that a hind leg, appears the other hind leg is missing?
From the online photos the ovipositor is short and curved upward

Paleo, Now I'm not sure what I'm seeing is even part of the critter. You're right about the the shape of the ovipositor. I saw that description in the article but had wondered if it extended for laying. Looking at other sites, I don't think it does.

If I had only seen the second photo (the one on the leaf ) I might have leaned in the direction of a variety of katydid.

I also don't think that first photo is related to the other two. It does have the characteristic cornicles — rear horns — of aphids. Sprep said it was a stock internet photo...

@sprep , where are you located?

NMoasis said:

I also don't think that first photo is related to the other two. It does have the characteristic cornicles — rear horns — of aphids.

The first photo, which the original poster said it is not an aphid, has the typical long cornicles of aphids.
The speckled bush cricket has those barely visible even at young age or at any age.


Also the hind legs are very long in comparison with the other 2 set of legs even on a young speckled bush cricket, which does not correspond to the original image where the hind legs are almost the same length as the other set of legs, more like aphid proportions.

So while the op knows well aphids the shown initial image is not of a speckled bush cricket nymph.