Aphid (likely a nymph or a shed exoskeleton)

Found on the undersides of leaves and stems of a vast variety of garden plants, crops, and trees. They thrive in temperate zones.

Sap-suckers. They feed on plant phloem sap, using piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract nutrients from host plants.

They often cluster in large colonies on new plant growth. They excrete a sticky substance called 'honeydew' which attracts ants. They reproduce very rapidly, often asexually during the growing season.

Risks: Major agricultural and garden pest; they weaken plants, cause leaf curling, and transmit plant viruses. Benefits: They are a primary food source for beneficial insects like ladybugs and lacewings.