Say hello to the Picasso bug, Sphaerocoris annulus. This colorific critter gets its nickname for the beautiful combination of pigments splashed across its back like paint on canvas. 

It is a member of the Scutelleridae, a group of true bugs known as shield backed bugs or jewel bugs for their brilliant coloration. However, they are also known as stink bugs due to their habit of releasing pungent smells when bothered. It’s giving “you can look, but you better not touch.”

Size doesn’t seem to matter when it comes to the ability to pack a stinky punch either; Picasso bugs only reach lengths of up to 1.5 centimeters (0.6 inches), or about the same length as an aspirin.

They are reportedly widespread throughout tropical regions of Africa, having been recorded in countries such as Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia, and Tanzania, but also in subtropical regions in places like Namibia and South Africa.

There, Picasso bugs feed on a whole host of different plants, including species of Hibiscus, cotton plants, and Arabica coffee. They do so by piercing the plants’ stems, leaves, and fruit with their mouthparts, sucking up the fluids within.

However, the damage this feeding method causes has led the bugs to be considered something of a minor pest by some.

This article first appeared in Issue 23 of our digital magazine CURIOUS. Subscribe and never miss an issue.