Red Cotton Bug vs Bee Killer Robber Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Red Cotton Bug | Bee Killer Robber Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Dysdercus koenigii | Mallophora bomboides |
| Order | Hemiptera | Diptera |
| Family | Pyrrhocoridae | Asilidae |
| Size | 12-18 mm | 20-28 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Fungus Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka) | Eastern United States from New England to Florida |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Red Cotton Bug
A bright red and black true bug that stains cotton lint by piercing developing cotton bolls. Adults and nymphs aggregate in large numbers on cotton plants, and their feeding introduces fungi that further damage the crop.
Did You Know?
The red staining caused by this bug's feeding on cotton bolls reduces the market value of the cotton fiber by creating permanent yellow spots.
Bee Killer Robber Fly
A large fuzzy robber fly that closely resembles a bumble bee in both appearance and buzzing flight. It perches on vegetation and launches aerial attacks on passing insects.
Did You Know?
Its bumble bee mimicry is so convincing that it can sit among real bees at flowers without being recognized as a predator.