Jewel Bugs Fact Sheet

Identification
Length 15 mm. Rounded, convex shape. Colour varies, from
pale orange to heavily patterned metallic green, blue and red.
The back of the insect is covered with an enlarged, shield-like
scutellum.
Mallotus Harlequin Bug, Cantao parentum
The Mallotus Harlequin Bug sucks the sap of Mallotus trees
(Green or Red Kamala) in dry rainforest areas in south-east
Queensland and northern New South Wales. During winter, large
numbers of adults form clusters that may remain inactive for
two to three months. Cantao parentum was named because the
females demonstrate parental care by guarding the eggs and
young nymphs from predators.
Identification
Length 20 mm. Elongated body. Orange with two black spots on
the thorax and eight spots on the enlarged, shield-like scutellum.

Female Hibiscus
Harlequin Bugs
guard their eggs.
Image: QM, Jeff Wright.

Jewel Bug, Cantao parentum. Image: QM, Jeff Wright.

Jewel Bugs have broad rounded bodies with an

undivided shield covering the entire abdomen. Their
bright colours led to their common name. Many sucking
bugs have a triangular scutellum in the middle of back.
In Jewel Bugs the scutellum is expanded to cover
the entire abdomen and enclose both pairs of wings,
leading to their other common name, Shield-backed
Bugs. Australian Jewel Bugs feed on a broad range of
seeds; on the plant and also on the ground following
dispersal. In Australia, some Jewel Bugs are referred
to as Harlequin Bugs, a name that is applied to several
other groups. There are 25 known species of Australian
Jewel Bugs in the Family Scutelleridae, part of the large
Superfamily Pentatomoidea.
Hibiscus Harlequin Bug, Tectocoris diophthalmus Hibiscus Harlequin Bug nymphs are often a different colour to the adult.
Image: QM, Bruce Cowell.
The Hibiscus Harlequin Bug sucks sap from hibiscus
plants, bottle trees and related species, especially the
native Beach Hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus). Because
Tectocoris diophthalmus also feeds on species related
to hibiscus especially in the Malvaceae, it has become
a minor pest of cultivated cotton leading to its other
common name, the Cotton Harlequin Bug.
Biology
Female Hibiscus Harlequin Bugs lay clusters of eggs
around twigs and guard them until they hatch. The
nymphs are often a different colour to the adults. The
Hibiscus Harlequin Bug is found in coastal dunes,
rainforest, open forest and gardens in northern and
eastern Australia, New Guinea and some Pacific islands. Mallotus Harlequin Bug, Cantao parentum. Image: QM, Jeff Wright.

www.qm.qld.gov.au © The State of Queensland, (Queensland Museum) 2011

 Green Jewel Bug, Lampromicra senator
Biology
The Green Jewel Bug forms non-feeding clusters during
hot dry periods especially along creeks, spreading out to
feed again when conditions improve. One food plant is
the False Coffee Bush, but the Green Jewel Bug feeds on
many plants from ferns and figs to Lantana. Lampromicra
senator is found in the tropics and subtropics, extending as
far south as Wollongong in New South Wales.
Identification
Length 9 to 14 mm. The Green Jewel Bug is extremely
variable in coloration, from metallic green to purplish-blue.
Some specimens have an orange stripe across the shield-
like scutellum. This small genus in the Family Scutelleridae
contains smaller species, usually with metallic blue or
green colours.

Jewel Bug, Lampromicra senator. Image: QM, Jeff Wright.

Author: Geoff Monteith, Chris Lambkin & Chris Burwell

Further Information
Burwell, C., 2008. Backyard Insects of Brisbane.
Queensland Museum, Brisbane.
Ryan, M. (Ed.), 2007. Wildlife of Greater Brisbane.
Queensland Museum, Brisbane.
Queensland Museum
PO Box 3300, SOUTH BRISBANE QLD 4101
Phone: (07) 3840 7555
www.qm.qld.gov.au/

www.qm.qld.gov.au © The State of Queensland, (Queensland Museum) 2011