ID an insect

MrsGarden

Sorry for the quality of the photo. It's a black insect with a distinctive red rectangle on it's back. It loves the Sambucus Nigra.

Jellyfire

hard to see with the picture, but looks like a ladybird larvae? https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/advice-blogs/wildlife-in-my-garden/Archive/Looking-at-a-Harlequin-ladybird-larva

MrsGarden

Thanks Jellyfire, my initial thought was no not a lady bird then looked at the link and problem solved, yes its ladybird larva! Wow thanks. I have an obvious lack of wildlife knowledge!

Jellyfire

Theyre like little ladybird dinosaurs. The eggs are usually laid near aphids, so its probably aphids that love your sambuca rather than the ladybird. If there are no more aphids/prey on your plant you could always move him somewhere there are some, unless he's started changing already. They kind of solidify as they start to pupate

(oh btw if you have a touchscreen phone or ipad, you can usually focus on the part you want sharp in the picture by tapping on it once on the screen)