Bug FAQAfrican Cotton Stainer
Dysdercus nigrofasciatus · Order: Hemiptera · Family: Pyrrhocoridae
Source: Wikipedia
African Cotton Stainer is a true bug in the family Pyrrhocoridae (genus Dysdercus). It lives across several African countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. It feeds on cotton and similar plants, earning its name as a cotton-staining pest.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Dysdercus nigrofasciatus belongs to the true-bug family Pyrrhocoridae and the genus Dysdercus.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
Because it feeds on cotton, it is considered a pest of that crop.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is found in African regions including South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
It feeds on cotton and related plants, which is why it is called a cotton stainer.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers the same African countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 7 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Alabama, Massachusetts, California.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants does the African Cotton Stainer damage?
It feeds on cotton and related plants, causing staining and damage.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is the African Cotton Stainer found?
It occurs in African countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Source: Wikipedia
Is the African Cotton Stainer a household pest?
Yes, it is known as a cotton-staining pest because it feeds on cotton crops.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Pyrrhocoridae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysdercus_nigrofasciatus
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.