Gutta bug
This slender orange and black bug feeds openly on plant sap in full daylight, relying on its bold colouring to warn off predators.
| Where | Grassy ground across East and Southeast Asia |
|---|---|
| Size | 14 to 18 mm body length |
| When | March to December |
The gutta bug has an elongated, parallel-sided body that is orange to reddish brown with black markings on the wing membranes and abdomen, and a plain, unbanded pronotum.
Adults and nymphs feed on the sap of Mallotus trees and various grasses, often gathering in small groups on stems and leaves in open, sunny ground.
Traits
Habitat
Grassland
Colour
Orange, Black
Active
Day
To people
Feeds openly on host plants by day; not known to bother people.
Activity through the year
Often confused with
Has a pale collar band behind the head, a mark absent on the plain, unbanded pronotum of the gutta bug.
Questions
Is the Gutta bug dangerous to people?
Feeds openly on host plants by day; not known to bother people.
When can you see the Gutta bug?
The Gutta bug can be seen from March to December, by day.
Plate retouched from a photo by Kai Squires, CC BY 4.0, iNaturalist Licence
Report a mistake in this entry
Last updated 2026-09-27. Every entry is checked against published sources.