View source for Bagrada hilaris

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[[File:Harlequin bug (Bagrada hilaris) (4560488423).jpg|250px|thumb|''Bagrada hilaris'' (click on image to enlarge it)<br/>Author(s): Ton Rulkens<br/>Source: [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Harlequin_bug_(Bagrada_hilaris)_(4560488423).jpg Wikimedia Commons]]]
<font color="#800000">'''''Bagrada hilaris'''''</font> (Burmeister, 1835) - (Bagrada bug, painted bug)

The bug is native to Asia, Africa and some parts of the Mediterranean where it feeds mainly on crucifers. It has been recorded from the south-western U.S.A. since 2008 and has spread to other countries on the continent. In the Americas it has become a serious economic problem on cruciferous vegetables. The feeding activities result on malformation and wilting. Yield losses often exceed 10%. The life cycle from egg to adult lasts around 1-2 months, it overwinters in the adult stage.

The bug forms aggregations of hundreds of insects. These aggregations can invade houses, become a nuisance, cause allergies and even bite humans ([[Journal of Medical Entomology (2018) 55, 1365-1368|Faúndez, 2018]]).

For a review see [[Annual Review of Entomology (2016) 61, 453-473|Palumbo et al., 2016]]

[[Category:Pentatomidae]]