I put this tree in the ground a few weeks ago, and while examining the brand new buds, I noticed this extremely well disguised insect (and egg mass) on the end of one of the branches. Obviously I will remove it, but I can't find anything to identify it. Thanks for your help.
The insect is a larva of a green lacewing (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae); they are general predators on other small arthropods (see http://tinyurl.com/4zru63k for an example) and thus usually considered beneficial. i do not know what the egg-like objects are, but they definitely are not related to the lacewing.
The eggs remind of Stink bug eggs but not 100% sure.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/465557
Thanks for the help. I left the lacewing alone and he eventually left. I then removed the eggs. The tree is starting to bud now.
