Mallotus Harlequin Bug

Found these beauties in mass congregation on a tree. Every leaf at a height of < 8 feet was completely covered by them.

This jewel bug is approximately 12mm long, a body colour of orange with black splotches. One of the insect world's more interesting bugs for a number of reasons; the adults remain with their offspring and protect them for several weeks which is rare for an insect, and they also produce chemical pheromone secretions known as spiroketals (156 and 157) which was the first report of spiroketals from any of the Heteroptera order of insects (Schulz, 2004).

The jewel bug will lay a number of eggs, and upon hatching, as previously noted; the bug will protect the offspring from predators for a number of weeks. :-)