Rainbow Shield Bug

Identification: Medium-sized (body length 14 mm), spindle-shaped, unmistakable, with 2 rows of black spots on the iridescent green, blue, yellow and red back. Underside red or orange, with green plates.
Biology: Sometimes a pest of cotton; also breeds on sunflower, sorghum, tobacco, castor oil and various other domesticated and indigenous plants. Feeds by piercing young seeds, causing seed shedding and distortion of seed head. Eggs are laid in a spiral on a stalk.