The+Cotton+Harlequin+Beetle+by+Olivia+S


 * The Cotton Harlequin Beetle **

// ** Introduction ** The amazing Cotton Harlequin Beetle is found right here in our own backyards. Its brightly coloured shell makes it a beautiful insect to study. //


 * // Classification //**

**// Anatomy //** //The Cotton Harlequin Beetle is a three part beetle. It has a small, round, black head with 2 long black antennae and a needle like mouthpart. This beetle has two compound eyes, which means it has multiple senses within the lens. The senses each gather a picture and join them together to make the image.// // Found on the underside of the abdomen are a set of stink glands, which can be used against predators. //

// The bright jewel like colourings change amongst the male and females. The females are generally orange in colour with small patches of metallic blue. The males are red with metallic blue patches. Patterns change greatly between individual bugs. //

// This insect has 6 black, jointed legs. Jointed legs help the insect to crawl and walk amongst the obstacles of plants. //



// The female is the largest at approximately 20mm and the male is slightly smaller. //

// ** Lifecycle ** //



//The complete life cycle can be seen on just one cotton plant. It takes approximately 50-80 days in total.// // The female lays the tiny barrel-shaped eggs (about 1mm) around the stem of the cotton plant with a stickly saliva. The eggs are yellowy grey with a black bands and a black spot. She guards the eggs with her body. //

// The clusters of nymphs hatch from the eggs and stick together under the protection of their mother on the underside of the leaf. This hides them from danger. They look exactly like their parents but without wings. After 5 months the nymphs became adults. //

// The young adults move on to the cotton bolls and leaves to feed. As they reach adulthood, the female begins the lifecycle all over again with the laying of her own eggs.

** Reproduction ** //

// The female beetle lays the eggs and sticks them around the cotton plants stem. The female guards her eggs with care. The Cotton Harlequin Beetle is known for it’s maternal care of their young nymphs. //

// The young nymphs live in clusters under the care of the female beetles. //

// ** Habitat **

It is found in city, agricultural and coastal areas along the Eastern side of Australia. // // They live on cotton bushes and sometimes hibiscus plants. They are minor pests to the cotton plantations. // Diet //**

// These beetles suck the juices from the hibiscus and cotton plants. They feed mostly on young shoots, piercing the stems with their needle like mouthpart and sucking the sugar rich juices that should have been for the shoots growth. They also attack the young cotton bolls. //

// The brightly coloured jewel shell of the beetle does attract Predators, although the Cotton Harlequin Beetles do have a trick of their own.
 * //Predators//**

When under threat the beetles gather together in a tight bundle. As soon as one beetle lets out the bad smelling odour, it triggers all the others to let open their stink glands. This multiplies the smell. Many predators cannot handle the stench that arises from the large group.

Known predators of the beetle are, birds, spiders, rats and mice. //

//The Cotton Harlequin Beetle may have very beautiful colours but are pests.//

// ** Environmental Impact ** // ====//When they feed, they pierce the cotton boll’s protective covering. This can allow fungus to enter the cotton boll, which rots the cotton. This can be a very serious impact for the cotton farmer’s crop. In city gardens they cause the flower buds to die and drop off the plant early.// ====

====//The Cotton Harlequin Beetle is a beautiful, amazing insect with two beetles never looking exactly the same. This beetle has fantastic parent skills, good protection against its enemies but sadly can be a pest to our world.// ====



By Olivia Sanders **