Cotton Stainer is a type of insect known for damaging cotton crops by feeding on the plant’s seeds and leaving behind stains on the fibers. These pests, scientifically known as Dysdercus suturellus, were once considered the most destructive cotton pest in Florida, but their current impact has diminished, making them a minor pest in the southern region of the state 1.
Despite their reduced impact on cotton crops, it’s still important for cotton growers to be familiar with these insects. Cotton Stainer bugs not only impact the yield of the cotton plants but also the quality of the fibers, which can lead to a reduction in value due to the presence of stains on the cotton. Understanding their behavior and finding methods to prevent and control infestations is essential for maintaining healthy and high-quality cotton crops.
Understanding Cotton Stainers
Scientific Name and Genus Dysdercus
Cotton stainers are insects belonging to the Dysdercus genus, with the most important species being Dysdercus suturellus. They are called cotton stainers due to their feeding activities on cotton, which can stain the lint and reduce its value 1.
Physical Characteristics and Identification
Cotton stainers, also known as “red bugs”, have the following physical features:
- Bright red or orange body color
- Black, elongated marking on their wings
- Size: approximately 8-12 mm long 2
Geographical Distribution
Cotton stainers are found in various regions, including:
- North America
- Cuba
- India
- Jamaica
- Puerto Rico
- Alabama
- Georgia
- South Carolina
They were historically the most destructive cotton pest in Florida, but are now considered a minor pest in the cotton industry3.
Life Cycle and Development
Eggs and Nymphs
Cotton stainers go through a life cycle that consists of eggs, nymphs, and adult stages. Female cotton stainers lay their eggs, which usually hatch within 7-10 days. Cotton stainer nymphs are generally red and go through five instars. Each instar stage takes about 21 to 35 days to complete development, depending on temperature differences source.
Development process:
- Eggs: Hatch within 7-10 days
- Nymphs: Red, pass through five instars
The nymphs possess wing pads and abdominal segments that gradually develop as they progress through the instars. As the nymphs grow, they molt, shedding their exoskeleton and leaving behind a larger one to accommodate their increasing size.
Adults and Reproduction
Cotton stainer adults, like nymphs, are red, but they also have fully developed wings. The life cycle of a cotton stainer varies from about a month to three and a half months, primarily depending on temperature differences source.
Adults mate to reproduce, initiating another generation of cotton stainers. Proper management of cotton stainers ensures the quality and yield of the cotton crop.
A comparison table of life stages:
| Life Stage | Color | Duration | Wings? | Mating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nymphs | Red | 21 to 35 days per instar | No | No |
| Adults | Red | 1 to 3.5 months total cycle | Yes | Yes |
To summarize some important points about cotton stainer’s lifecycle and development:
- Life cycle stages include eggs, nymphs, and adults
- Development duration is influenced by temperature differences
- Nymphs have wing pads and abdominal segments
- Adults have wings and reproduce
Host Plants and Damage
Cotton Bolls and Lint
Cotton Stainers, or Dysdercus suturellus, are known to infest cotton plants. They damage cotton bolls and lint by puncturing the developing bolls, causing the lint to become stained and discolored.
- Punctures result in weakened fibers
- Stained lint is less valuable
Okra
These insects can also cause damage to okra plants. They suck the sap from fruits, affecting their quality.
- Sap-sucking leads to deformed fruits
- Reduced quality of okra
Hibiscus and Other Hosts
Cotton Stainers also infest various ornamental and malvaceous plants like Hibiscus spp.
- Hibiscus damage is occasional but noticeable
- Most common in southern Florida and Cuba (source)
Other hosts include:
- Sorghum
- Millet
- Baobab tree
- Oranges
Economic Impact
While Cotton Stainers were once a major pest in cotton production, they are now considered a minor pest, particularly in the southern part of Florida (source).
Comparison Table: Cotton Stainer Damage
| Host Plant | Type of Damage | Economic Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Cotton | Stained and weakened lint | Reduced value of cotton |
| Okra | Deformed fruits | Lower quality and yield |
| Hibiscus | Sap-sucking on ornamentals | Aesthetic damage |
| Other Hosts | Varied damage depending on plant | Minimal to moderate impact |
The various types of damage caused by Cotton Stainers can have different economic implications, with cotton bolls and lint being the most affected crop.
Detection and Monitoring
External Signs of Infestation
Cotton stainers, specifically Dysdercus suturellus, are known to cause damage to cotton crops. Some signs of infestation include:
- Punctured bolls
- Discolored seeds
- Oozing seeds
These insects pierce the bolls and feed on the seeds, which can result in reduced seed quality and stained lint.
Behavioral Patterns
Cotton stainers exhibit a few distinct behavioral patterns:
- Attracted to lights
- Aggregation near damaged bolls
- Diurnal activity
These insects are typically active during daylight hours and can be attracted to lights during the night. They show a preference for feeding on damaged or compromised bolls, resulting in aggregated groups around these areas.
Some important physical characteristics of cotton stainers include:
- Corium: The leathery part of the forewing covering the base of the membranous section
- Clavus: The triangular area located at the inner posterior edge of the hemelytra
- Scutellum: The large, triangular plate that covers part of the insect’s thorax
- Pronotum: The large plate located on the upper side of the thorax, just behind the head
- Antennal segment: A divided section on the antenna, usually four in number
- Beak: The long, slender mouthpart adapted for piercing and sucking
In conclusion, monitoring and detecting cotton stainer infestations can be crucial for maintaining cotton crop health. Identifying external signs and understanding their behavior can aid in the implementation of effective management strategies.
Natural Predators and Control
Assassin Bugs
Assassin bugs are known to be efficient predators of cotton stainers. They use their strong beaks to pierce and inject toxins into their prey, paralyzing them. Some examples of assassin bugs that prey on cotton stainers include:
- Zelus spp.
- Pristhesancus spp.
Spiders
Spiders are another group of natural predators that can help control cotton stainer populations. They use their webs, speed, and venom to capture and subdue their prey. Common spiders that prey on cotton stainers are:
- Wolf spiders (Lycosidae)
- Jumping spiders (Salticidae)
Birds
Birds are also known to feed on cotton stainers, especially when the insects are abundant in the field. Some bird species that prey on cotton stainers include:
- Blackbirds
- Crows
- Sparrows
Parasitic Flies and Other Insects
Parasitic flies, such as tachinid flies, can help control cotton stainer populations by laying their eggs on or inside the insects. The larvae then feed on the host, eventually causing its death. Other natural enemies of cotton stainers include ants, which can feed on their eggs, larvae, and adults.
Comparison table of natural predators:
| Predator | Attack Method | Example Species |
|---|---|---|
| Assassin Bugs | Beak to pierce and inject toxins | Zelus spp., Pristhesancus spp. |
| Spiders | Speed, web, and venom | Wolf spiders (Lycosidae), Jumping spiders (Salticidae) |
| Birds | Flight and beaks to pick cotton stainers | Blackbirds, Crows, Sparrows |
| Parasitic Flies | Lay eggs on or inside host | Tachinid flies |
Pros and cons of natural predators:
Pros:
- Eco-friendly
- Target-specific
- Low-cost
Cons:
- Seasonal dependency
- Limited availability
- Can be affected by environmental factors
Integrated Pest Management
Cultural and Physical Control Measures
Cultural and physical control measures are essential components of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for cotton stainers (Dysdercus suturellus), a cotton pest primarily found in southern Florida. One significant control measure is sanitation, which involves removing plant debris, cotton waste, and overwintering sites to reduce pests’ breeding grounds. For example:
- Clearing plant debris and cotton waste
- Ensuring proper field sanitation
Another physical control method is the use of barriers such as chicken wire to prevent pests from accessing the cotton plants. Hand picking is also an option, especially for small-scale infestations.
Chemical Control Options
Chemical control options for cotton stainers include the use of insecticides, such as organophosphates or natural extracts like custard apple leaf extract, pyrethrum formulation, and black wattle extract. These insecticides can be more environmentally friendly and locally sourced in some cases. For example, in Tanzania, the custard apple leaf extract is an option.
Pros of using chemical control options:
- Effective in controlling cotton stainer populations
- Provides a faster solution compared to non-chemical methods
Cons of using chemical control options:
- Potential harm to non-target organisms
- May lead to pesticide resistance in pests
A comparison of cultural and physical control measures versus chemical control options:
| Control Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Cultural and Physical | Environmentally friendly, sustainable | May be slower and more time-consuming |
| Chemical Control Options | Fast and effective in controlling pests | Potential harm to non-target organisms, possible pesticide resistance |
In conclusion, implementing both cultural and physical control measures with chemical control options is crucial for a well-rounded Integrated Pest Management strategy to tackle cotton stainers’ infestations.
Bug Control Recommendation Tool
Cotton Stainers and Clothing
Dealing with Stains
Cotton stainers are pests that belong to the pyrrhocoridae family. They can cause stains on clothing, especially on cotton fabric. These stains primarily occur when the bugs puncture the seeds in the developing cotton bolls, causing a juice to exude that leaves a stain.
To deal with stains on clothes, follow these steps:
- Act fast: Treat the stain immediately to minimize its impact.
- Pre-treatment: Apply a stain remover or pre-treatment solution to the affected area.
For oil-based stains, you can also use:
- Dishwashing liquid
- Baking soda or cornstarch
Discoloration
Aside from stains, cotton stainers can also cause discoloration in clothing. This is primarily due to the bugs’ feeding activities.
Combatting discoloration may involve slightly different approaches, like:
- Preventive measures: Keep your clothing away from areas where cotton stainers are prevalent – e.g., stored cotton or agricultural sites.
- Color-safe bleach: Use color-safe bleach in your regular wash to minimize discoloration.
Comparison table: Dealing with Stains vs. Discoloration
| Dealing with Stains | Dealing with Discoloration | |
|---|---|---|
| Cause | Cotton stainers puncturing developing cotton bolls | Feeding activities of the cotton stainers |
| Pre-treatment | Stain remover or pre-treatment solution | Color-safe bleach during wash |
| Duration | Acts fast | Preventive measures for long-term care |
Remember, cotton stainers can cause unsightly stains and discoloration on your clothing. Act fast and use appropriate treatments to minimize the impact and keep your clothes looking fresh and vibrant.
Footnotes
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160 Comments. Leave new
Thanks, bug masters! Apologies for the omission of some info. Length is around 8-12mm, and it was a millipede they were eating, not a centipede. The millipede assassin bugs look pretty close, but they’re a little too red, and the bugs in question don’t have the third black spot on their back. I think you nailed the caterpillar – thanks again.
I’ll get the search going to find the adults.
I think they’re close to this cotton stainers from Namibia: http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2011/11/24/unknown-true-bugs-from-namibia/
Thanks Cesar,
Thursday and Friday are both very long days at work and away from the WTB? offices, so your assistance in this identification is greatly appreciated.
Hey, a good match: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Odontopus_sexpunctatus.jpg
Cool, this assassin bug seems to Mimic them:
http://www.reduviidae.de/systematik/harpactorinae/phonoctonus.html
Cool, this assassin bug seems to Mimic them:
http://www.reduviidae.de/systematik/harpactorinae/phonoctonus.html
These bugs have been in my yard a few years and I live in the bay area.
Thanks for the information.
we have had them in riverside county for a few years too the best way to get rid of them is laundry soap and and water in a sprayer you can use cheap liquid detergent we have animals and dont like pestisides or poisons .
Thanks Jodi Hanby for your recommendation of laundry soap and water. I used Dawn dish soap & water and it worked great!
these bugs are showing up in Iowa too.
These are soapberry bugs, rather than Cenaeus carnifex. The image on the site South African Photographs that you reference is for that ID is instead Leptocoris hexophthalmus. Those in these images are a little difficult to identify. The short winged adults, particularly that in the center of image 2 (which is take from image 1), is Leptocoris mutilatus. That just to its left may be of the other soaberry bug genus, Boisea, in this case Boisea fulcrata. It is tricky because there appears to be some mimicry among S. African soapberry bugs. The upper-most adult in image 1 might be L. hexophthalmus. All soapberry bugs depend on seeds of plants in the soapberry family (Sapindaceae), including Allophylus spp., Pappea capensis and Cardiospermum spp. (including invasive C. grandiflorum). So one of these plants or a relative is in or near Philip’s new garden. There are few host records for S. Africa, so we are always looking for good host photodocumentation from observant naturalists!
Thanks so much for the correction Scott. We have updated the posting with the corrected information.
Hi, rather than a cotton stainer in California, this is the similarly colorful Whitecrossed Seed Bug (Neacoryphus bicrucis, a Lygaeid), as you noted in your posting for another inquiry on this species on January 8, 2013 .
Thanks for this correction as well Scott.
clear picture of predatory bug
i am intrested that predatory bug givve some picture
They are in Louisvile Kentucky too
I have seen these in lots of little clusters before the winter began against the stems of trees in Pretoria South Africa. I can send pictures if anybody wants them. They also seem to have preferred only that specific tree.
Images can be submitted using the Ask What’s That Bug? link on our site.
I hate these blasted soapberry bugs, please could you tell me how I can exterminate them forever as I get them in the thousands every year!!!
Thanks
We do not provide extermination advice.
I hate these blasted soapberry bugs, please could you tell me how I can exterminate them forever as I get them in the thousands every year!!!
Thanks
Pyrrhocoridae. Antilochus coquebertii.
Thanks for the identification.
Ive always called them Meat Bugs. Im located in East London on the Eastern Cape coast. They are carnivorous or omnivorous for sure. Some have black V shape markings some are just red.
I live near Denver and we have these too
I had this really similar unknown bug. I have pictures of it when it was a caterpillar/worm, it then turned into a pupa (still have it) and after awhile it became this bug and I let it go (can prove it with pictures)
Oh, and for your info, I live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Hi Daniel
I’ve spoken with Doug Yanega and he has ID these as either Pyrrhocoridae or Largidae due to their lack of Ocelli (Not Rhopalidae ). I’ve also just posted a nymph of the same species to my Flickr page.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davegball/16059243009/
Happy New Year!
David.
Thanks for the update David.
Hi Daniel
I’ve spoken with Doug Yanega and he has ID these as either Pyrrhocoridae or Largidae due to their lack of Ocelli (Not Rhopalidae ). I’ve also just posted a nymph of the same species to my Flickr page.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/davegball/16059243009/
Happy New Year!
David.
This bug is the predatory pyrrhocoridan Antilochus conqueberti.
Thanks so much for this identification on an old posting. Are you one of the authors of this paper in the Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies?
Red Cotton Bug, Pyrrhocoridae, Odontopus varicornis.
http://www.nbair.res.in/insectpests/Odontopus-varicornis.php
Thanks for that identification.
It looks kind of beautiful 🙂
Lots of them in my trees, saw them feasting on 2 doves. So they are not dangerous at all?
Are these bugs poisonous?
How can we contain them in a particular “space”?
Cotton Stainers are not poisonous. We have no advice on the containment of wild creatures.
Are these bugs poisonous?
How can we contain them in a particular “space”?
I have thousands of these red bugs everywhere.. I saw they were mating recently.. And now there numbers have increased. There are little babies everywhere.. You will see 50 or more on a single weed in the yard.. Very freaky.. Englewood Florida..
They’re called Firebugs. Just located a huge population of them here in Huntington Beach at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands.
The Red Bugs commonly called Firebugs, Pyrrhocoris apterus, are a different, but similar looking species from Europe. Several years back, we received a report of Firebugs from Utah, and as of now, BugGuide only reports Firebugs from Utah. Since Firebugs and Mediterranean Red Bugs look similar, we would not venture to speculate that you truly observed Firebugs in Bolsa Chica without an image.
We just noticed hundreds of these bugs along our fence line. I live in Fullerton, CA in Southern CA. We were wondering if our drought has something to do with it since we no longer water anything but our flowerbeds (these aren’t in the flowerbeds yet).
Weather conditions do affect insect populations.
We have a huge outbreak in our back yard about 12 miles east of Santa Maria Ca. They are in many different stages and appear to be breeding. They will swarm a weed to feed and appear to be boiling out of dry cracks in the soil. They are beautiful but there are a cajillion of them
Found in Huntington Beach now as well.
Winchester Calif, summer 2015, they seem to love the dung of our pasture horses
Shary,
I read your comment regarding the Mediterranean Red Bug in horse dung. The same bug infested our horse paddock by the thousands. I’ve been killing them with Castile soap and H2O but new nymphs and still huge infestation. Were you successful in eradicating them from your pasture? How? I know its been a long time, so you may not get this, but thought I’d take a shot. Thanks.
We live in Utah and have suddenly found a large amount of these Mediterrean Red Bugs.
We live west of Sacramento ca and have a bunch around our horse wash rack in the gravel and weeds
Mediterrean Red Bugs now in Utah
We have so many of these on our property in Fallbrook, Ca (northern most part of San Diego county). They seem to be increasing daily!
I have planted milkweed to attract Monarch butterflies and have just recently notice these red bugs on the milkweed. Will they harm my caterpillars or are they just after the aphids or are they targeting the milkweed plant?
We are not convinced the insects on your milkweed are the Red Bugs in this posting. We believe a more likely candidate is the Large Milkweed Bug or the Small Milkweed Bug, neither of which will harm your Monarch Caterpillars.
Large aggregation of red bugs here in the foothills 10-15 miles east of Santa Maria, CA in field of dead weeds.
I’ve been watching these red bugs for a couple of weeks. It is very dry here (southern Tulare County, CA) and all the surrounding fields are dry. Although my mostly fallow garden is full of these guys. I have not seen them showing any interest in eating veggies. Nor do the chickens show any interest in eating them! This evening I found a dry dandelion stalk completely covered with tiny red nymphs(?). I sure hope they don’t acquire a taste for greens.
Dear Bugpersonnel, please look here: http://www.farangsgonewild.com/probergrothius-nigricornis.html. Very similar.
Thanks very much for providing a link to what looks to be a correct identification of the Kapok Bug.
We have been seeing many of these bugs the past few weeks in Baja California, Mexico. I don’t recall seeing any last year. We are about 40 miles South of the CA border.
Reduviid-like to me.
Thanks Cesar. Phasmid Eggs did not sit well with me. I generally think of Phasmids as scattering the eggs, and not laying them in a cluster.
I found some insects in the garden that resembles your picture of a cotton stainer. Different shapes of the black marks and with white stripes. I have photos. Where can I post them.
You may submit images using by clicking the Ask What’s That Bug? link on our site.
The following link does not exist anymore:
http://www.nbair.res.in/insectpests/Odontopus-varicornis.php
NBAIR have corrected their Id and have changed it to Melamphaus sp. Family: Pyrrhocoridae,
http://www.nbair.res.in/insectpests/Melamphaus.php
It is
Thank you for informing us. Websites come and go and we feel lucky to have been an active site since 2002 and an online column on the now defunct American Homebody site since 1998. We will retain those specific dead links as an historical record, and we will provide an update with the new link and ID.
They are in Oregon.
They are also in North Carolina. My yard is full of them and they multiply by the thousands. Size ranges to teeny to the size of a common cockroach. How can I get rid of them?
How to get rid of them?
We do not provide extermination advice.
Showed up in the native wildflower beds this Spring 2016, installed beds last Spring. My ox-Eye sunflowers foliage is seeing damage but not sure if this red bug is the problem yet.
I saw one for the first time today. I live in Granada Hills, Ca. (San Fernando Valley).
I do have a pest control service.
I’m in Desert hot springs, and today I was driving and felt something on my arm, it had bit me. Too bad we can’t post pics here. I have a pic of it from today. This site won let you post picture
The editorial staff of What’s That Bug? strictly monitors site content, so we do not permit random posting of imagery from the web browsing public. Imagine for a moment how much time we would spend removing inappropriate content if anyone could post anything to our site. You may submit any images you would like to have identified through our established process, which is to use the Ask What’s That Bug? link on our site and attaching up to three images. We select site content from among the hundreds of submissions we receive each week.
First time I’ve seen this bug at home, Ventura, Ventura County. There seem to be quite a lot of them in a short period of time.
Just spotted about 1/2 dozen or more of these insects just now clustering on the blooms on our milkweed/butterfly plants in the East/Hollywood or ‘Little Armenia’ area of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County.
If they are on milkweed, chances are far better that they might be Large Milkweed Bugs or Small Milkweed Bugs.
Hi, saw these everyone on the cliffs of Palos Verdes Callifornia
Thousands found on hiking trails behind Bella Colina golf course in San Clemente
These bugs are in my back yard in ventura ca how can I get them out
Hi I want to kno how to kill these red bugs there’s too many
We do not provide extermination advice.
Quite a few found in our backyard in Monterey Park, CA (Los Angeles County)
How can we get rid of them organically?
After reading another comment earlier, back in August, Here in East Hollywood, I just shook the plant and they flew away, and/or, if they fell to the ground, I just stepped on them. [Most flew off].
I have millions of these in my ash tree! Southwest Missouri
We have these all over our property in San Benito County. There are 1000’s of them. They have moved from around the yard to the horse manure piles in my pasture. Lots of aggregations still. A few under the water troughs, one in a dying tree and some on the sides of my horse shelters.
After the invasion last two years I have yet to see one after winter. I am so surprised since we had 1000’s and 1000’s. I can’t see that they did any damage.
My son got bitten by one of the species of these last night they walk bum to bum and have green and red like native American markings on back … when they are small they are red… kissing bug?
Soapberry Bugs are not Kissing Bugs. The latter are Assassin Bugs in the subfamily Triatominae.
Thank you Mike – these Red bugs are on my Hibiscus and mating. Have quite a few. Interesting to watch. They didn’t like having their picture taken and attempted to hide under the leaves.
These are St Andrew’s cotton stainer Dysdercus andreae.
Thanks for the identification on this 11 year old posting.
we have gazillions in our yard!!! along with them are some inch long blackish/gray bugs that sometimes stick together…like backend to backend. When the blackish/gray bugs are squished, red looking “blood” oozes out. I’m in South Texas.
I just found few dozen of them on my house here in Windsor Ontario, Canada. Is there any chance for them to nest inside my house?
Many True Bugs hibernate inside homes.
Hi I stay in Gauteng on small holding I came across this bug. They are red in colour and appear in big red bunches. They were on my boundary wall and on a tree in my garden. Why are they here?
What is attracting them?
Hi I stay in Gauteng on small holding I came across this bug. They are red in colour and appear in big red bunches. They were on my boundary wall and on a tree in my garden. Why are they here?
What is attracting them?
Invasion here in Orangevale, near Sacramento!
We have them in Ventura CA too
I have found these in my yard in Southern Idaho. They are annoying.
BugGuide does not report any members of the Red Bug family Pyrrhocoridae in Idaho. We suspect you most likely encountered Western Boxelder Bugs or some other species with red nymphs that form aggregations, as pictured in this BugGuide posting.
can I get information on their life cycle
Backyard infestation in Anaheim! Do these pose a threat to my vegetable garden?
Though they are a nuisance, we do not believe they will harm your vegetables.
We have them all over the ranch in Ventura California
We’re in Mission Viejo, CA, around Trabuco and Los Alisos, not far from the Aliso Viejo sighting. We have an infestation of them in our yard. The yard is about 50×20, about 1/4 of it has a lot of vegetables we’re growning as a garden. Unfortunately we’ve let the rest of it go to weeds. The bugs are in all stages of maturity. The tiny ones look like red aphids. The adults frequently walk around with their rear-ends attached, obviously (?) mating. While they appear to have wings they do not seem to be flying.
Can anyone recommend a garden-friendly/organic method of removal? I’m planning to hack out the weeds then sweep them up and try basic soap water all over.
Yes in Utah I’m seeing more of them and less box elder bugs? What is the best way the get rid of them?
Thank you for this identification!! I posted a picture of these bugs on Facebook asking if anyone knew what they were and had a few people insisting they were box elder beetles. I was certain “my” bugs were something different, so I Googled how to do a reverse image search on my phone and found this page on your site. I am in Mojave, CA (north of Los Angeles) and have noticed these bugs for about a week now. It’s good to know they likely don’t pose any danger to us, our pets, or the trees in our area.
Just found these in northern VA – do they do anything specific to plants? Should I leave them be or try to get rid of them? Anyone know?
I have several thousand in my yard.. Bleach did not kill them.. I will try the soap.. Are there any ideas to kill them in mass,,,, break cleaner, wd40, and engin bright did not work…. Someone Help
Sam – I, too, had thousands in my yard and garden for the last 2 summers of the drought, But for the life of me, I could never discover any damage done by them. I just left them alone (organic gardening purist :P), except for taking a few pics. We had LOTS of rain this last winter, and now I only see an occasional straggler. We live out in the country, so maybe they just have room to spread out (or drowned). Hope you survive.
We have millions of them in Menifee CA!
The ones in this thread are probably not Antilochus (the one in the link seems okay though), but probably rather some Melamphaus sp.
Thanks. We will look for some links and update the posting.
k. walters: 10/2017. I am in the foot hills east of Fresno @1600 ft. Nine months ago I found a Blue Oak tree, killed by the drought, infested with these bugs. I have since cut the tree down and removed the wood. The bugs have started to infest various weeds, some areas of the barn, and seem to nest under dried piles of horse manure. Breeding locations? How or where do these bugs breed, subterranean? They have dispersed to about a half acre area.
Any help on controlling their breeding environment and and substances that kill them is appreciated. Laundry soap is my next step for killing them. Thanks, Kurt
We don’t provide extermination advice. The Center for Invasive Species Research states: “The most noticeable impact of S. aegyptius in California will likely be the presence of large numbers of nymphs and adults migrating from drying annual weeds into adjacent developed areas. These migrations consisting of thousands of individuals can be very conspicuous and lead to large aggregations on small patches of host plants causing concern to local residents who notice these obvious aggregations.” There might be other helpful information for you there.
Kurt Walters – I used Dawn dish soap & water and it worked great!
Doug Peltz found them. He is the CEO of Mystery Science and was a former science teacher.
Go check him out at mysterydoug.com
Doug Peltz found them. He is the CEO of Mystery Science and was a former science teacher.
Go check him out at mysterydoug.com
I see hundreds of them at a park near my house in Santa Clarita. They emerge en masse from Argentine ant nests. I wonder if they are feeding on the ant larvae and then planting their eggs in the nests…
That would really be wishful thinking.
We are actually in Northern California and this is the first year we have seen them. There are millions of them!!
Are these red bugs dangerous. I have multiple spots in my garden where they are clustered.
They are not dangerous.
I planted Milkweed two years ago and have watched these little red and black beetles increase in numbers . They are even crawling up the walls of our house. I don’t use bug spray because I have a lot on Hummers and bees coming to my plants. I have ants like crazy too and they don’t seem to be bothering them. I’m going to try the dish soap and water and spray on the ground around the plants.
This bug has subsequently been rechecked at the department of entomology at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, GKVK and it is now confirmed as Probergrothius sanguinolens Amyot and Serville, 1843.
Thanks so much for providing that information.
Thanks for the update Mr.Shyamal
Here in north eastern ohio as well in the grass beside my back door
Hi we live in a complex in Roodepoort Johannesburg South Africa and have had the same colony living in our complex for over 8 years in the same area. One of the resedants is now asking for them to be exterminated and we feel it is uncalled for especially as the cause no harm. What steps can we take to prevent this from happening. Can such a colony be protected by any South African laws?
Sorry, we are not experts on South African laws.
How do I get rid of them
Thank you Bugman,
The cotton stainer bug shows up about the time the althea stops blooming or the althea stops blooming because the bug attacks the bud. There are hundreds on each shrub. Think I will attempt control this year and see.
Thank you Bugman,
The cotton stainer bug shows up about the time the althea stops blooming or the althea stops blooming because the bug attacks the bud. There are hundreds on each shrub. Think I will attempt control this year and see.
We having a migration of them coming into our community. We actually live a mile from UC Riverside. I guess as long as they eat weeds we’ll let them be.
I’m in Fresno CA and just killed a bunch of these that were mating in my backyard. If someone could email me, I would be happy to send pictures.
Hi,
I am in Fair Oaks and this is the first time I have seen them in 2019. They are in my planter boxes. Can anyone tell me how bad are they if they are among my vegetables? and if so, what’s the best thing to use to kill them?
Thanks
Hi, thank you for posting this! I have encountered this bug many times(I live in South India) and was never able to find out which species it was. I also found their mating fascinating.
P.S. I was always fascinated with insects. I just discovered this website and it is amazing. Thanks again for doing this.
We were visiting Livermore Del Valle National Park and the ground was literally coverwd with these bugs. I had never seen them in all the years we have visited the park. The ground was red with them. Why has the park not fumigated to control them?do they bite dogs, humans?
Sonia,
They do not bite dogs, or humans and could only be a problem if you were growing a garden and didn’t want these red bugs eating your vegetation. They are NOT like a gross bug like a bedbug, or a roach.
Thank you this is a great help. They have started coming in to the house, this will help to control them.
Do Boxelder bugs eat plants, what is there diet?
According to Animal Diversity Web: “Boxelder bugs feed on boxelder trees, maple trees, and ash trees. Nymphs feed on the juices found inside the seeds of host plants. Adults eat the leaves, flowers, twigs, and seeds of host plants. Prior to the development of seeds, they eat low vegetation and old seeds found on the ground. Boxelder bugs may eat other boxelder bugs or eggs during molting. Fruits including apples, pears, peaches, plums, and grapes are eaten as well. Boxelder bugs have been reported eating dead insects such as cicadas or ground beetles.”
Same bug is found in my backyard and it so annoying, they sting and it’s painfull and now they started invading inside my house as well is there a repellant for this
A few years back I had suggested Melamphaus as an option (above).
There are some species of Melamphaus with a description that comes quite close, but the description of the antenna on these do not seem to fit the conspicuous black antennae with a white tip that can just about be recognized in the images here.
Also note that the same antennae show in these images of “Melamphaus sp.” suggesting the ones on that page ay well be misidentified:
https://www.nbair.res.in/Databases/insectpests/Melamphaus.php
The conspicuous antennae rather seem to fit nicely with the description of Odontopus sanguinolens.
The name of the genus Odontopus was replaced with Probergrothius by Kirkaldy in 1904 but that replacement was withdrawn by Kirkaldy himself in 1905. Recently some authors have started using Probergrothius again, following Stehlik (1966), but others retain the name Odontopus (Roberts, 2004). So, currently information and images can be found under either name:
Odontopus sanguinolens
Probergrothius sanguinolens
Thanks for submitting this comment.
Just found a ton of them in our front yard for the first time. Just on the outskirts of Los Angeles.
We discovered hundreds and hundreds of them in our small yard in Phoenix this summer. We have never seen them here before, so it was a surprise to discover so many so fast!
Is there anyway to get rid of them? My daughter lives in north Phoenix and came home from a weekend and found ants and these red bugs
hi there
How do i get rid of these insects and what damage can they do ?
hi there
How do i get rid of these insects and what damage can they do ?
Going to need an exterminator to control box elders, they are difficult to manage without the products the professionals use.
I live in the Bay Area and just discovered THOUSANDS of them near our dry construction area. They are piled up in mounds on little patches of green weeds in the dirt. I haven’t seen any of them flying which is good I suppose. I’m going to try the laundry soap too. Looks like they mate & multiply faster than rabbits!
I had them for 5 years. The 5th year being the worst!I must of killed 20,000 that year with dawn dish soap. And i still had tons of them. BUT the next year they were all gone. I found alot of them dead in a tree’s bark, like they hung out there for winter and maybe the frost got them? Anyway who knows but the dirty rotten buggers have been gone for 2 years now thank goodness!
Mary Chabolla – I used Dawn dish soap & water and it worked great!
We are experiencing a black and red bug beetle mating and migration infestation in the west San Fernando Valley today 7/4/2022. I have never seen these beetles in these numbers here before. They are all over our entire front yard and sidewalk.
I grow milkweed for Monarch butterflies.I have noticed these bugs eating the monarch’s eggs.The asian ladybugs and domestic lady bugs, can eat hundreds of Monarch in no time.
I live in west side of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and noticed these in clumps on the side of quite a mature tree in a residential area on my late morning walk.There were two distinct patterns on their backs with fewer showing the markings your pics show. Have never seen before but identified them by an app on my cell phone. If you would like I can send them to you.
At the time, I didn’t ident the tree but intend to shortly.
Do these bugs do harm in my veggie garden.