Friend or pest?

[manicscousers]

sorry it's a bit blurred, I didn't want to get too close, it was quite big  :o
any ideas, please  ??? ;D
if it helps, that's a potato leaf it's on  :)

[manicscousers]

[small]

Mmm, 'tis a bit blurry, might it be a hoverfly? If so, I believe they eat aphids - I rescued one from a spider web today in that belief!

[Georgie]

It looks - colour-wise - a bit like a ladybird larva.  Wonder if this is what they look like when the get legs???  ???

G x

[manicscousers]

not a hoverfly, too big and I recognise them, definitely not a ladybird, again, too big, this was approx over 1" long, quite bright red and black stripes, anyway, i beat a hasty retreat  ;D

[macmac]

is this the one ?-baby ladybird  :)

[manicscousers]

nope, much bigger and deeper red

[Digeroo]

Looks more like the harlequin ladybird larvae

http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/eggs-larvae-and-caterpillars/16951-harlequin-larva-adult.html

seems they  do have legs

[manicscousers]

just had a look, this was definitely too big, unless it's a mutant  ;D

[Unwashed]

There are some banded longhorn beetles, it might be one of those.  I don't think it'll harm your spuds, but the larvae are wood-eaters, so don't invite her home!

[manicscousers]

that's the one, thanks so much, unwashed, I can tell my mate to stop being a scaredy cat, thinking it's going to sting and the other thinking it was colorado beetle  :o ;D