On a green leaf under the soft sunlight, I found a cotton stainer bug looking stunning like a natural gem. Its entire body is bright orange decorated with contrasting black and white colors. Seen from the side, the lower body is orange decorated with white lines arranged neatly on top of its base color, bright orange.
When viewed from the top or back, it is even more interesting. It looks like someone wearing an orange suit complete with a black tie and white necklace. Its eyes are jet black. Its long antennae and slender legs are also black, complemented by a seductive red glow. It stands there very calmly, as if it is showing off its natural beauty while warning predators that it is not good to be eaten as a snack.
In Latin, this insect is known as dysdercus poecilus, one of the main pests of cotton plants from the Pyrrhocoridae family. For its habitat, this insect is the same as other insects in general, namely it likes open and warm places.
| Latin name | Dysdercus poecilus |
|---|---|
| Observation date | 2 Jul, 2025 |
| Camera used | realme 7 Pro |
| Photographers | @reachdreams |
| Location | Aceh, Indonesia |
| Link to original community |
|---|
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/294489190
| Latitude | Longitude | Map |
|---|---|---|
| 4.695135 | 96.7493993 | https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=4.695135&mlon=96.7493993 |
