Many accidentally enter the home through windows, doors or other small openings, sometimes near night-lights. Others may enter to overwinter. Many bugs have scent glands on the side of their body used in secreting odors. It feeds primarily outdoors on alfalfa seeds. The tip of the triangular scutellum projects backwards between the wings and is rounded.
Adults are predaceous, feeding on other insects.
They are present from May to October and found on tall weeds, along streams and in dense woodlands. Harlequin Bug Adults are easily identified by the irregularly marked black and yellowish or orange color pattern. Eggs are white with two black bands and a white spot. Eggs are deposited directly on the leaves of plants, resembling rows of small barrels. They have a Y-shaped head marking and two broad transverse orange bands across the wings.