Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) ➔ Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) ➔ Class Insecta (Insects) ➔ Order Hemiptera (Hemipterans) ➔ Family Pyrrhocoridae (Firebugs)
Pyrrhocoris apterus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Gemeine Feuerwanze Firebug
Synonyms and other combinations:
Cimex apterus Linnaeus, 1758 |
BG, Naturpark Zlatni Piassatzi
2008-08-28 13:52:36
RO, Schwarzmeerküste
2005-09-09 12:23:32
DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
2010-05-08 09:52:58
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
2015-03-17 11:32:50
with exuvia
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2023-09-05 16:27:12
with exuvia
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2023-09-05 16:25:13
Imago, still uncolored
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2019-08-19 16:41:49
Imago, still uncolored
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2019-07-29 13:29:45
Imago, still uncolored
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2019-10-01 15:25:03
mating
DE, Chemnitz, Zeisigwald
2006-05-21 15:06:53
mating
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2019-02-20 15:14:54
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2008-09-09 12:29:32
larvae
BG, Naturpark Zlatni Piassatzi
2008-08-28 14:52:48
larvae (L4)
BG, Naturpark Zlatni Piassatzi
2008-08-28 14:49:53
larva (L5)
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
2013-08-08 18:45:14
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2017-03-12 12:30:54
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2017-03-12 12:27:29
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2017-03-12 12:31:47
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2019-02-14 14:41:44
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2019-02-14 13:25:18
DE, Chemnitz, Stadtpark
2019-07-29 13:31:53
DE, Chemnitz, Harthwald
2020-04-02 12:46:41
DE, Chemnitz, Hutholz
2023-05-25 13:02:01
Distribution:
Palearctic, China, India, North America.Habitat:
On lime trees and mallow plants.I have found the species mostly in the foliage layer near the trunk of lime trees in open, sunny areas of parks.
Description:
Body length 6.5 - 12 mm; conspicuously red and black colored, mostly short-winged (brachypter), rarely also long-winged (macropter) bug with oval body shape; pronotum at the margin red with black central spot; head, antennae, scutellum and legs black; corium of hemielytra red with black round central spot, mostly smaller triangular spot at the base and black margin; clavus black; abdomen black in the middle with a red margin (connexivum).The species is actually unmistakable by its conspicuous appearance. The Cinnamon Bug (Corizus hyoscyami), which belongs to the family of scentless plant bugs, and the Black-and-Red-bug (Lygaeus equestris), which belongs to the ground bugs, are similarly coloured.
Biology:
The Fire Bug Pyrrhocoris apterus mainly sucks on the seeds of lime trees (Tilia cordata, Tilia platyphylos) and mallows (Malvaceae). Fire Bugs were also found on Robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia) and other plant species. In addition to plants, dead animals as well as weakened or freshly skinned conspecifics are occasionally used as food sources. The polyphagous diet is one of the main reasons for the frequent occurrence and wide distribution of this species.The adults often spend the winter in the litter around the trunks of old lime trees or in bark fissures. Under a protective snow cover they can survive temperatures of -20°. On warm, sunny winter days they leave their sheltered quarters and spread in the surrounding area. The pictures from 14 February 2019 show that the Fire Bugs can form large aggregations for overwintering.
After mating, which can last from a few minutes to a few hours or even days, the overwintered females start laying their eggs in April or May. The eggs are laid in packages at intervals of 2 to 5 days. Studies have shown that the size of the eggs decreases by 16% with the age of the females from the 1st to the 6th egg package. Embryonic development at 18 - 20°C takes about 10 - 14 days. It can be accelerated to 6-8 days in the warm and dry season or slowed down to 24 days at lower temperatures.
The larvae pass through 5 larval stages. They need temperatures above 15°C for their development. The larger larvae emerged from larger eggs have a better chance of surviving, as they are less likely to become victims of their cannibalistic conspecifics.
The entire duration of development from oviposition to the hatching of the adults amounts to approximately 2 - 3 months in Central Europe.
Pyrrhocoris apterus forms 1 - 2 generations in Central Europe. In warmer years and in warm places, a 2nd generation develops from eggs deposited by females hatched between June and early August. These females cannot hibernate. Later hatching females undergo a winter diapause without having laid eggs before.
References, further reading, links:
- Radomir Socha: Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera)–an experimental model species: a review. European Journal of Entomology, 90: 241–286, 1983, ISSN 1210-5759.