I don't know what species this is. I feel confident that it's not a wasp or bee. The body shape is too different, I don't see wings (which almost certainly means the striping along the back of the animal is occurring on "elytra", the modified forewings nearly all beetles have, and which protect the hindwings actually used for flying), and the feet look very much like beetle feet. I can't see the antennae well enough to be absolutely certain, but I strongly suspect this is a longhorned beetle of some sort. There are many such beetles, some of which hang out in flowers as adults (without harming them). Very often the larvae of these beetles eat trees & shrubs, usually when those plants are already in a state of decline, or have already died. I think it's striped in a pattern that mimics bees & wasps. Many longhorned beetle species have such striping (although many more do not). I also suspect your flowers are being damaged by thrips, especially if this damage occurs most often on your pale colored roses.

25 looks like a "sparce" The Fairy rose to me. It looks like a baby plant but the form of the bush with the leaves is so classical. Of course, more opinions would help. 24 looks like Flower Carpet rose. I guess I cannot do two links on one post, but you will see it in HMF. ............Ooooh, I would love to be right for you, heehee! Good Luck and a big congratulations on the birth of your new baby girl - Fantastic news. Have fun! Pauline, Vancouver Island Here is a link that might be useful: The Fairy

It could be the Banshee that they suggested for mine below and I also found a rose called Paul's hymalayan Musk rambler rose that could be it. Here is a link that might be useful: http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/64797/index.html

Many thanks Lalala! That is exactly what it is! I have many hickory trees and other trees mentioned in this article on my property, so it makes sense. I'm going to free it from the pickle jar (where it is currently feeding on some apple leaves that I placed in with it). No matter how much rose foliage it eats, it can't hold a candle to the damage that the Japanese beetles are doing to the same rose bush. I'm glad for this verdict because I've gotten somewhat attached to the furry critter in the jar. Thanks for the warning too, but I managed to handle the little caterpillar without getting a rash. (It escaped from the bucket and I had to pick it up to put it in a more secure location. There was also some contact during our photography session, but I came away unscathed... so far.)