Species Murgantia histrionica - Harlequin Bug

Cabbage Harlequin, Calico Bug, Fire Bug, Terrapin Back(1)

Murgantia histrionica (Hahn 1834)

Greek histrio 'clown, jester' (refers to the color pattern)

7.5-11.5 mm(2)(1)

Brightly patterned, distinctive; the amount of black varies considerably.

Native to Mexico and C. America, invasive in our area (first detected in TX, 1864) and now widely established across the US (ME-SD to FL-CA) bur rarely found north of PA-CO(2)(3); the northern limits of the established range fluctuate markedly depending on winter severity; migrates northward during spring and summer(3)

year-round in CA

hosts: primarily Brassicaceae (horseradish, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, mustard, Brussels sprouts, turnip, kohlrabi, radish); may also attack tomato, potato, eggplant, okra, bean, asparagus, beet, weeds, fruit trees and field crops(4)

Eggs look like white barrels with two black hoops around; adults overwinter. The life cycle takes 50-80 days.(4)

Fact sheets by M.A. Knox(4), anon. (NCSU)