Pyrrhocoris apterus

The firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, is a common insect belonging to the family Pyrrhocoridae. It is easily recognized by its bright red and black colors, which can sometimes make it look like a Firefly. However, it is not related to the firefly or to another insect called the Corizus hyoscyami (also known as the cinnamon bug or squash bug).

This insect is found across a wide area called the Palaearctic, stretching from the Atlantic coast of Europe all the way to northwest China. It has also been seen in many other places, including the United States, Central America, India, and Australia. Recently, it has been moving further north into the mainland United Kingdom and east towards the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

Firebugs often gather together in groups. These groups, especially of younger firebugs, can include anywhere from tens to perhaps a hundred individuals. These gatherings help them stay safe and find food more easily.

Reproduction

Firebugs usually mate in April and May. They mainly eat seeds from lime trees and mallows. You can often find them in groups near the bottom of lime tree trunks, especially on the sunny side.

Sometimes, firebugs stay together in a pair while mating, which can last from 12 hours to as long as 7 days. This long time together helps make sure the male's seeds stay safe when other males are around.

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Development

Scientists made an interesting discovery about the firebug, P. apterus, in the 1960s. When they tried to raise these bugs at Harvard University in the United States after successfully raising them in Prague, Czech Republic, something unusual happened. After the fifth stage of growth, the bugs either grew a sixth stage or became adults that looked more like younger bugs. All of these bugs died before fully growing up.

They found out that the problem was caused by the paper towels used in the United States. This only happened with American paper towels, not European ones. The cause was special hormones found in trees like the balsam fir used to make paper in America. These hormones affected the firebugs but not other insects, showing how different insects react to chemicals. The main chemical was juvabione, which acts like a hormone that controls growth in insects.