I think it's a green tortoise beetle. Here's a picture of one that looks a lot like yours.

They're very odd. The very young ones carry piles of their own excrement on their backs, and entymologists think it's for camouflage.

There are also Golden Tortoise beetles.. Scroll down 3/4s of the page to see all versions of it.

From the link about Golden Tortoises: 6) Shell-Switching Faux-Ladybug Beetle

You may have already seen a Golden Tortoise Beetle but not have realized it, since these remarkable creatures can change from a shiny gold color to a dull red with ladybug-like spots. They achieve this change by altering the reflectivity of their outer shell  essentially like tinting a window  via microscopic valves that alter the moisture level under the shell. While it is not known for sure, there must certainly be advantages to appearing as part of another commonly-found species.

I do know the Tortoise Beetles are leaf-eaters, but I can't find anything specific that the Green Tortoise eats, other than thistle leaves if it's a Green Thistle Tortoise beetle! Can you keep an eye out to see if it's munching on your garden plant leaves or is just passing through?

Looks like a tortoise beetle larva. They sometimes carry their own droppings on their back to deter predators. Do a google image search and you'll come up with a whole bunch of similar, weird looking bugs!

UNH Cooperative Extension flyer on Tortoise Beetles:
http://extension.unh.edu/FHGEC/documents/torbeetl.pdf

Here is a link that might be useful: Tortoise Beetle Larva images

I have seen these adult beetles, and definitely would have never thought the strange little green one turned into one. I will keep my eyes out for more of them and try to observe more.. I did kill this one.. no time to observe yesterday.. Thanks for the information and links :) Regina

These little buggers hide under the leaves, so turn the laves over to look for them. I had clavate tortoise beetles on my potato plants ths year. I went through and did a mass kill (only maybe 15 beetles total) and then checked the plants the next few days and only found like 1-2 more. None since I killed those. Seems like just killing the ones you see is an easy way to control them (I would rather not spray chemicals on the plants unless I absolutely have to). Here is a picture of the type I had this year, taken on a tomato plant, but this was the only one I found on the tomato plants, the rest were on the potatoes:
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Golden and Green Tortoise beetles are considered a beneficial control for Colorado Potato Beetles.

Dave

Dave

That's good for some of us to know! I don't think I've ever seen any of them in my garden, but I'll check out the beans every now and then for them, just to be sure!

Dave-thanks for the info! Do you know for sure that the larvae pic I posted originally is that of the Green Tortoise Beetle? Thank you, Regina