Sycamore Seed Bug vs African Cotton Stainer

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sycamore Seed Bug African Cotton Stainer
Scientific Name Belonochilus numenius Dysdercus fasciatus
Order Hemiptera Hemiptera
Family Lygaeidae Pyrrhocoridae
Size 5-7 mm 13-18 mm
Habitat Woodlands Farmland
Diet Seed Feeders Seed Feeders
Regions North America, Europe Sub-Saharan Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Sycamore Seed Bug

A seed bug native to North America that feeds exclusively on sycamore seeds. It has recently invaded Europe where it spread rapidly.

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Did You Know?

This species was first detected in Europe in 2008 and has since spread across the continent in less than a decade.

African Cotton Stainer

A vividly red and black pyrrhocorid bug that is a significant pest of cotton across tropical Africa. It aggregates in large numbers on cotton plants where it feeds on developing bolls. The bold coloration signals its unpalatability to birds.

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Did You Know?

Large mating aggregations of hundreds of individuals form dense red clusters on cotton plants, making them highly conspicuous to farmers.