a glimpse of the cotton stainer bug

Scientific classification e
Kingdom:
Animalia
Clade:
Euarthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hemiptera
Superfamily:
Pyrrhocoroidea
Family:
Pyrrhocoridae
Dohrn, 1859

Pyrrhocoridae is a family of insects with more than 300 species world-wide. Many are red coloured and are known as red bugs and some species are called cotton stainers because their feeding activities leave an indelible yellow-brownish stain on cotton crops.

A common species in parts of Europe is the firebug, and its genus name Pyrrhocoris and the family name are derived from the Greek roots for fire "pyrrho-" and bug "coris". Members of this family are often confused with, but can be quickly separated from, Lygaeidae by the lack of ocelli (simple eyes) on the top of the head.