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Dysdercus cingulatus
aka Red cotton stainer... this species is considered to be one of the major pests of cotton and is known to attack many other cultivated plants. its common name "Cotton Stainer" refers to its tendency to leave stains on the cotton bolls as it feeds on the plants parts. it will also feed on the most profitable host plant it can find... and if that host plant deteriorates and becomes unsuitable... individuals will move to a less preferred host. studies carried out showed that D.cingulatus can withstand several days of starvation while migrating and looking for suitable host plants.! adults are 12-18mm long (0.47-0.71 in) and have transverse white bands which could be seen on the collar... and just behind the head and on the underside along the margin demarcating each thoracic and abdominal segments.! it is closely related and very similar to Dysdercus koenigii but D.cingulatus is slightly larger and the femora have varying amounts of black while D.koenigii has completely red femora.!
Hemiptera; Pyrrhocoridae; Pyrrhocorinae
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