Hi, I've posted this picture on the midsouth and midatlantic forums already. I really need to get the word out about this monster. Because he is so handsome at all ages--even the eggs are beautiful, the unwary gardener can be completely taken in. There used to be beds of cleome in gardens all over my town. No more, these guys absolutely destroy cleome (brassicas too, but most people in my suburban town grow flowers instead of vegetables.)
No one else seems to be aware of this problem. Maybe this area is the hotpoint of an epidemic. I'm in northern Va. The University of Maryland has a pest alert out. The adults can fly. Do not let Harlequin bugs get established in your area. I haven't given up on cleome because it is beautiful and the hummingbirds love it. But thanks to Harlequin bugs, it takes a lot of effort to grow now.
