I am a new tropical gardener starting a permaculture garden. Yesterday I found many of these very strange bugs on my daturas happily munching leaves. They are the same green as the leaves, oval, many legs, and about 1/4" long. From the head there is a large black, odd-shaped protrusion attached to a thin tube. It might be a casing for a parasitic beneficial, so I am not sure to eliminate or not. I brought one inside and broke off the black casing. Right after, I noticed a very tiny flying insect that might have (must have) emerged from the casing. Datura bug w/raised casing ( photo / image / picture from mexicopat's Garden )
Clearly, this insect is driving a tank. The piece you broke off was the turret. It could be some sort of larva, maybe keep one alive and see if it matures?
