About Scantius aegyptius (Linnaeus, 1758)
Scantius aegyptius, commonly called the Mediterranean red bug, is a species of red bug belonging to the family Pyrrhocoridae. It acts as a pest for plant species that belong to the family Malvaceae. These ground-dwelling bugs feed on seeds and seed pods. They are recognizable by their black and red coloration, which uses aposematism to deter predators. Their head, antennae, and legs are black, while their red dorsal surface has two round black spots. Nymphs may be fully red, and gain increasing numbers of dark spots each time they moult. Adult Mediterranean red bugs usually reach 7 to 9 mm in length. This species is considered invasive in North America. It was first recorded in California in 2009, and by 2018 it could be found in most Southern California counties, as well as several counties in Central California.
