Diet

• Adults and nymphs: Primarily feed on developing seeds and fruits, using their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract plant juices.

• The species is strongly associated with cotton (Gossypium spp.) and other plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae).

• They may feed on cotton bolls and seeds, potentially causing discolouration, reduced seed quality and staining of cotton fibres.

• They are also known to feed on hibiscus, okra and other malvaceous plants.

Range

• Dysdercus bimaculatus is a cotton stainer (Pyrrhocoridae).

• The species is associated particularly with warm tropical and subtropical regions where cotton and other Malvaceae are present.

• It is occasionally sighted in Zihua, where wild and cultivated Malvaceae provide potential food plants.

Habitat

• Found in tropical dry forest, scrub, agricultural areas, gardens, plantations and disturbed vegetation.

• Adults and nymphs are frequently associated with cotton and other malvaceous plants, particularly when fruits or seed capsules are developing.

• Around Zihua, check hibiscus, wild Malvaceae, cotton relatives and other flowering shrubs, especially where seed capsules are present.

• They may occur in groups, particularly around fallen fruits and seeds.

Size

• Adult length: approximately 10–14 mm (0.4–0.55 in).

• Body elongated and somewhat oval.

• Typically red, orange-red and black, with the contrasting colour pattern characteristic of Dysdercus.

• D. bimaculatus has distinctive dark spots on the forewings, reflected in the species name bimaculatus, meaning “two-spotted.”