Hibiscus harlequin bugs are true bugs with sucking and piercing mouth parts and are a common sight in this location. Singularly, or in large groupings, which is quite a sight to behold given the beautiful colours and patterns.
Native to the east of this country. They feed on many species of plants belonging to the family Malvaceae, including hibiscus species and cotton. The males and females are different colours, with the females mostly orange and the males mostly blue/green-red.
I find a lot of them on my Duranta bushes as seen here, but I don't believe the beetles feed on them.
20 mm body length.
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