Looks like Praying Mantises to me.

Definitely NOT Praying Mantis. Even the babies have the "grabbers" out front. But, they appear to have leaf-cutter mandibles, so I would be prepared to spray.

I found this bug on one of my tomato plants this morning as well. Never saw this bright orangey thing before, and it wasn't eating - at the time. Just flexing wings and legs. I left him/her be, now I'm wondering if I should have.

Hi Sumilea,

I believe it is either a martian grasshopper or a venusian leaf muncher. They haven't been seen since the fifties when DDT wiped them out or so we thought. They're back.

The government is investigating the source of the infestations but has not been able to locate the specific area of origin as of yet. Stay tuned.

What plant did you find them on?

Thank you everyone for the quick replies. As soon as i saw the critters i decided to do some heavy trimming to avoid further pest problems. I found these guys near my Delicious Tomato Plant. Does anyone know if they are harmful? If they are from the 50's are these endangered species? lol.. i might have just killed them off with all the spraying..

I'm guessing they're a nymph form of something. Here's a katydid nymph on one of my roses. (The damage was done by Japanese Beetles.)

Martian grasshopper? Venusian leaf muncher?

How about Plutonian hopper or Uranus weevil?

Seriously, doesn't look like any tomato pest I am familar with. I am thinking beneficial. How large were they?

Insects can have so many instars (grow stages) --maybe it is a praying mantis with the grasping forelegs undeveloped?

Or with that elongated head I was thinking some sort of assassin but I can't find anything like it on the internet.

I would email that pic to local extension office.

That is a poignant shot--I feel sorry for them.

I agree it is probably a nymph - I also thought it was a praying mantis nymph but when I googled it, learned that praying mantises look the same throughout their lives - they don't change forms. There's a really cool website where you can submit your photo and ask for an ID, and this retired entomology professor replies. Your pic is really clear so I think he would probably have an answer. Link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: What is this pest photo identification

Here is a pic of some nymphs but you can't see them close up. Even though they say the nymphs can resemble adults with some insects there are still differing instars.

But I have no idea what they are (even though they look vaguely familar) but would like to know as it is plaguing my mind trying to think what they could be. :)

Here is a link that might be useful: Mantis nymphs

Farkee - point taken on the mantis nymphs - and I'm spending way too much time trying to figure it out! My guess is a cricket nymph or maybe katydid as alisande suggested.

I did see a pic of a tree cricket nymph--it looked 'sorta' similar.

California Tree Cricket Nymph looks about right. But in MA? I'm with farkee- Some sort of tree cricket nymph.

You're in big trouble! Those are Selenite nymphs as described by H.G. Wells in First Men in the Moon. Good thing you killed them, because the link shows what they look like when they grow up.

Here is a link that might be useful: Selenite

Hey guys, the bug man answered...follow link and scroll down to pic #1912!

Here is a link that might be useful: What is this pest photo identification

Penserosa wins the new microwave!

lol - I dunno, Farkee and Reaverg guessed it - is the microwave 3rd place? :-)

Thanks guys!! How about Tomato Seeds =) instead of a Microwave lol.

sumilea

You guys know the rules...all prizes must be accepted as awarded.

Everyone wins, except me. I was the only meathead that said Praying Mantis.

dvdgzmn,
before you mentioned them, I was thinking of the martians in War of the Worlds and how they all died. Still HG Wells. Great minds think alike.