Cotton Harlequin Bug vs Mexican Kissing Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cotton Harlequin Bug | Mexican Kissing Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Tectocoris diophthalmus | Triatoma dimidiata |
| Order | Hemiptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Scutelleridae | Reduviidae |
| Size | 15-20 mm | 24-32 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Underground |
| Diet | Sap Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Australia, Oceania | Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cotton Harlequin Bug
One of Australia's most colourful insects, with a brilliant metallic orange and iridescent blue-black shield-shaped body. The colour pattern varies between individuals, with females being larger and more brightly marked.
Did You Know?
Females guard their eggs and young nymphs, standing over them protectively in a rare display of maternal care for a bug.
Mexican Kissing Bug
A major Chagas disease vector in Central America and Mexico found in both domestic and peridomestic habitats. Adults are attracted to lights and can fly into homes.
Did You Know?
It is one of the few triatomine species that regularly invades homes by flying toward artificial lights.