I meant to post this ages ago, but here it is now.
I found a little bug in the backyard at my home in Mayfield, NSW Australia one evening. The bug had such a unique expression that I couldn't help but take some photos. I also named it Alfred.
The next day, in nearly the same spot, I found a bug that looked identical to Alfred except it was bright green instead of dull green. So either Alfred changed colors in the middle of the night or was replaced by a brighter doppelganger!
The next morning...
I looked up "winged insects of New South Wales" and found this excellent resource: http://www.ozanimals.com/australian-insect-index.html
I dug though the most likely families (Orthoptera and Hemiptera) and found, under the "True Bugs of Australia" section, the Flatid Planthoppers, all of which look just like Alfred, but with a range of colors, from pale white with a pink spot (Mango Planthopper) to green with a border of reddish brown spots (Common Green Planthopper).
Upon further reading, it appears that flatids go through five nymphal instars, which are developmental stages in between moltings on the way to reaching sexual maturity. Molting usually occurs at night or in the early morning and from one instar to another the flatid may change color or size, and may lose or gain a white powdery coating. So perhaps Alfred just molted and leveled up to the next nymphal instar .
Also important to note, flatids are invasive in Hawai'i, but native to Australia and can be a vector of diseases. But look at that face... as one expert in cute bugs, (my friend) Dougal, has pointed out, "How could that bug invade anything? What does it do, run up to you, nuzzle your face and go eep?"
