Details
Pyrrhocoris apterus
The firebug is a ground-dwelling true bug marked in red and black. It gathers by day and sucks juices from seeds and fruits.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
It lives in woodland edges, grassland, and urban parks across the Palearctic. Sunny ground near lime trees and mallows is often used.
Length 0.9-1.2 cm; weight 0.01 g-0.04 g. A red body with black markings creates a bold warning-like pattern. Many individuals have shortened wings and limited flight.
Diurnal and loosely gregarious, it clusters in sunny places. Groups may overwinter together in leaf litter or crevices.
A herbivore, it sucks fluids from fallen seeds, fruits, and plant tissues. Seeds of lime trees and mallows are common foods.
Mating occurs from spring into early summer, and females lay eggs near the ground. Nymphs resemble small adults and gain stronger red-black patterning as they molt.
It is listed as Least Concern, though local populations can still be affected by habitat change, collection, or pollution.
