Insect and Spider Identification: CLOSED: bug id, 0 by vitrsna

vitrsna wrote:
I looked in the BugFiles and can't even figure out what order this bug belongs in. The mature adults are about 3/4" long (2 cm), black and yellow. They are showing up consistently in a wild Aristolochia (sp. unknown) and i wonder what they are up to...no good, i suspect. I've noticed that some of the Aristolochia leaves are shiny and think perhaps they are laying eggs or wanting to prey on the polydamas swallowtail caterpillars/eggs. I have been hand squishing them. The bodies are like jello with no hard beetle shell. I expect they are common (i hope they are wanting to eat the aphids) but don't have an idea of their order. It appears that they do not fly, have six legs, and are really disgusting to squish. Thanks to anyone who can point me in the right direction regarding this bug. I am located in Colima, Mexico (zone 10b).