• Worldwide distribution. In Australia, many Pacific island countries. Cotton, okra and others, including weeds in the hibiscus family (plus unrelated grasses, cereals, citrus and forest trees).
• Low economic importance on cotton. Controlled by broad-spectrum insecticides used for other pests. Impact on okra not reported.
• Nymphs and adults suck seed before or after opening and stain lint, leading to boll shedding, or link failing to expand properly (tightlock).
• Eggs in batches in soil or leaf litter. Adults, red and black head, red eyes, white collar between head and thorax (and stripes at sides), pink to orange body, small dot on each wing.
• Spread: stronger flyer.
• Biosecurity: American species considered a high risk in Australia. Note, ratoon cotton risks establishing exotic pests.
• Biocontrol: fungi and predators (assassin bugs, tachinid flies), known, but programs not developed.
• Cultural control: before planting: plough deeply, hoe, remove weeds; during growth: hand pick, bag pods/buds in clear plastic bags, cage chickens in plots; after harvest: collect remains and destroy, plus destroy alternate hosts, volunteer and all ratoon cotton.
• Chemical control: pyrethrum, synthetic pyrethroids, e.g., lambda-cyhalothrin. 

Cotton stainers and pale cotton stainers.

Dysdercus species. Several species have been recorded from Oceania; the most widespread are the cotton stainers, Dysdercus cingulatus, and the pale cotton stainer, Dysdercus sidae. They are members of the Pyrrhocordiae.