Harlequin Bug

Description:

This is a true bug with sucking mouthparts. 3/8" long, proportioned like a heraldic shield. Black marked with brilliant orange and/or yellow. Nymphs are black and red. Source: The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Insects and Spiders. New York: Knopf

Habitat:

Crop fields, orchards, gardens and meadows This spotting was done at the Bolsa Chica Wetlands, an estuary and bird sanctuary located next to the Pacific Ocean.

Notes:

This insect is a commercial pest, causing white and yellow blotches on the foliage of infested plants.