Uh, what kind of bug is this?

red bug?, originally uploaded by gardenpunk.

Is this even a bug?

These are all over the emerging leaves of our cherry tree. No Google search has located anything about a bug like this, nor anything about cherry buds looking like this.

The kicker is that they're attracting ants, so they must be some kind of pest. Drat.

I just hope by leaving them alone the birds will discover them, unless they are baby cherry buds or something...and then I hope the birds don't discover them.

Drat!