Yup - I get those also. The first year I noticed them I watched until I realized that they eat the leaves, so now I put them in my can of soapy water along with the potato beetles. I don't know what they are and have looked for photos online without success so far.

Finally figured it out. It's a tortoise beetle, probably clavate TB. Here's a photo of the young which also eat the potato leaves.

Here is a link that might be useful: clavate potato beetle larvae

Geez, these things look like they're from outer space - or at least from a 50's B (maybe B-, lol) cult alien movie! How weird!

Dee

They sit very flat on the leaf at the edges with the middle thicker. On the plant, at quick glance they either look like the holes in the leaves left by various munching bugs or a splot of bird poop. Very well camouflaged - I often have to look twice to see them.

Thanks for the info. We found only a few but will keep our eyes peeled for more. Now if I can only figure out out what the little horror hanging on my screen window was this morning... ;)

Cute little buggers. They look like a turtle trapped in a soap bubble. I see a kid's cartoon in their future.