It is a brightly coloured convex and rounded shield-shaped bug with a metallic sheen that grows to about 20 mm.

[1] It is common in Eastern Australia, New Guinea and several Pacific Islands in habitats ranging from urban to agricultural and coastal areas.

[3] Hibiscus harlequin bugs feed on many species of the family Malvaceae, as well as cultivated cotton.

They will also feed on Illawarra flame tree flowers, Grevillea and bottlebrush saplings.

Females lay clusters of eggs around stems of usually the hibiscus plant and then guards them until they hatch.