Found in Orange County, CA. It's presumably what's eating the squash leaves in the property I just moved into. At first I assumed the lumps were parasite larvae, but then I noticed many others with the same lumps. Of course, they might all have parasites. Oh, it emitted a droplet of green liquid from its mouth when I touched it gently with a twig.
It's a larva of a leaf beetle; some species 'camouflage' themselves like this with their own fecal matter....
charming!
