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@insectguru

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A beautiful photo by @all_small_photography Thank you for sharing Nikita. Be sure to extend your support by visiting this beautiful gallery and photographer. Cotton Harlequin Bugs: The Colorful and Defensive Pests Cotton harlequin bugs are brightly colored insects that are found in many parts of the world. They are pests of a variety of plants, including cotton, hibiscus, and other members of the mallow family. Adult cotton harlequin bugs are up to 15-20mm long and have a pronounced convex shape. Females are larger than males and are mostly orange in color with small iridescent blue-green patches. Males are a mix of metallic green-blue and orange-red. All life stages of cotton harlequin bugs exude a pungent defensive fluid when threatened. This fluid is effective at deterring birds, but not predatory insects such as mantids. Cotton harlequin bugs develop through a life cycle of gradual metamorphosis. This means that they go through three stages: egg, nymph, and adult. Nymphs look like miniature adults, but they do not have wings. Female cotton harlequin bugs lay cylindrical egg clutches that girdle plant stems and leaf petioles. The female bugs then straddle the eggs and guard them. #harlequinbug #bugsofinstagram #bugs #naturephotography #insects #arthropods #nature #natureisbeautiful #naturephotography #planetearth #learnmore #educationalcontent #natureawareness #lovenature #biodiversity