[1][2] It is known to be a pest, particularly in legume crops, but infests a wide range of plant species.

[2] Black bean bugs were found for the first time in the Western Hemisphere in 2012 in Panama,[5] though initially misidentified.

[1] Females produce 300–400 eggs, laid over a period of several months, deposited in hidden locations on or near host plants.

[1] Nymphs and adults tend to aggregate on stems or on petioles under leaves, where they feed on plant fluids.

), soybean (Glycine max (L.)) and pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan (L.)), but they also are reported to damage crop plants in several other plant families, such as corn, hemp, sweet potato, potato, sugarcane, and rice.