Also called as cottonstainer bug. Their nymph and adults feed on developing ormature seeds of red cotton silktree. Penetration of developing cotton bolls leads to occasionaltransmission of fungi which develop on the immature lint (seed covering) andseed, rendering the later unviable and staining the lint to the typical yellowcolour.

 “Life-history:The eggs are laid in clusters of 80-100 in cracks of the soil or dry leavesnear the plants. The nymphs hatch out in about 7 days and become adults in40-85 days. 

The ones in the picture are nymphs, and preferliving in aggregations. Once they molt into adults, they tend to go away,although remain in close proximity. They breed through the season, and are seenfeeding on dead insects also, they r even known to cannibalize.

Third and subsequent instars can penetrate unopenedfruit to feed on developing seeds. Rate of development of egg and five nymphalinstars is temperature and nutrition dependent.

The red colored adults are marked by a row of 3black spots in the middle of the abdomen and 3 white spots on either margin ofit. 

Interestingly, it isconsidered a pest as it feeds on the seed of the cotton crop and does not allowit to germinate. But if we change the perception, it is a fascinatinginsect which emerges only when the red cotton silk tree starts its seeddispersal and this bug feeds on its seeds till monsoon and then disappears

Source - Cotton pests, predators and parasitoids - Descriptionsand seasonal dynamics (Central Institute for Cotton Research Nagpur, India)

Photo courtesy - https://www.flickr.com/photos/dinesh_valke/4138285149/