Diario de seano-rhodeisland

Isn't it incredible that the markings on this beetle form both a heart and a smiley face. What a treat to notice after I snapped the photo and then looked closely. Seems like that pattern of markings in specific to the blackened milkweed beetle, which I really didn't know until another community member helped me identify if down to the species level

It was so neat to learn about black cherry gall mites and the casings that they build (do they build them or do the casings form naturally around them?) I have vivid memories of seeing these markings on black cherry trees growing up, but I never really knew what they were. I was delighted that the iNaturalist AI helped me ID them.