Insect Photo - Pyrrhocoris apterus

tonitrade (59)in Photography • 4 years ago

The firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, is a common insect of the family Pyrrhocoridae. Easily recognizable due to its striking red and black coloration, it may be confused with the similarly coloured though unrelated Corizus hyoscyami (cinnamon bug, squash bug) (see comparison). Pyrrhocoris apterus is distributed throughout the Palaearctic from the Atlantic coast of Europe to northwest China. It has also been reported from the US, Central America, and India, and is also found in Australia. It has been reported as recently expanding its distribution northwards into mainland UK and eastward on to the coast of the Mediterranean sea. They are frequently observed to form aggregations, especially as immature forms, containing from tens to perhaps a hundred individuals.