Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: Bright green bug ID needed, 1 by Nybor

Nybor wrote:
Hello, I'm brand new to this community and I'm also a newbie at gardening, I can't wait to start my new hobby.

This bug wasn't found in my garden but I would really like to know what it is. I saw this bug when I was about 8 years old so the details are a bit fuzzy but my friend and I found it crawling on a tree. We gave it to a lady in our neighbourhood and she told us it was going to eat the tree and it's a good thing we found it.

It was about 8 inches tall and 2 inches thick, it was very bright green with little spikes sticking out of its back, and on the end of the spike were coloured balls. I don't remember the legs or what the face looked like.

So what is it called, would it of eaten the tree? I'd like to know all about it.

Thanks!