About Pyrrhocoris apterus (Linnaeus, 1758)
The firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, is a common insect belonging to the family Pyrrhocoridae. It is easily recognizable by its distinct red and black coloration, but it can be confused with the similarly colored, unrelated Corizus hyoscyami, which is also called the cinnamon bug or squash bug. Pyrrhocoris apterus is native to and distributed across the entire Palaearctic region, stretching from Europe’s Atlantic coast to northwest China. Outside of its native Palaearctic range, it has been recorded in the United States, Central America, India, and Australia. The species has recently been reported expanding its distribution northward into mainland United Kingdom and eastward to the Mediterranean Sea coast. Firebugs are frequently seen forming aggregations, especially when they are immature; these groups can contain tens to around a hundred individuals. Firebugs generally mate in April and May. Their diet consists mainly of seeds from lime trees and mallows. They are often found in groups near the base of lime tree trunks, on the sunny side. When mating, firebugs position themselves in tandem formation, and copulation can last from 12 hours up to 7 days. Males likely use this long copulation period as a form of ejaculate guarding when competition from other males is high.
