Diet

• Adults and nymphs: Primarily feed on seeds, fruits and other reproductive tissues of plants, using their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract plant juices.

• Like other Dysdercus, it has a strong association with plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae), including cotton and related plants.

• Feeding on developing seeds and fruit can cause discolouration and damage, and cotton-feeding species may reduce the quality of cotton lint and seed.

Range

• Dysdercus obscuratus is a cotton stainer (Pyrrhocoridae) in the subfamily Pyrrhocorinae.

• It has a Neotropical distribution, extending from Mexico through Central America into northern and western South America. Historical records include Mexico, Colombia and other parts of the region.

• It is occasionally sighted in Zihua, where the warm climate and abundance of Malvaceae provide suitable habitat.

Habitat

• Found in tropical dry forest, tropical deciduous forest, scrub, agricultural areas, gardens and other warm habitats containing suitable host plants.

• Adults and nymphs are associated particularly with flowers, fruits, seed capsules and developing seeds.

• Around Zihua, check hibiscus, wild mallows, cotton relatives and other Malvaceae, especially when they are flowering or producing seed.

• They may also gather around fallen fruits and seeds beneath host plants.

Size

• Adult length: approximately 10–15 mm (0.4–0.6 in).

• Body elongated and somewhat oval.

• Colouration is variable, but individuals can show combinations of red, orange, yellow and black.

• The species is notably variable in colour pattern. Different colour forms and subspecies have historically been recognised, and some closely related forms can be difficult to distinguish.