Pyrrhocoris apterus
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The firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, is a common insect of the family Pyrrhocoridae. Easily recognisable due to its striking red and black coloration, it may be confused with the similarly coloured thoug
Firebug
Nymph
Nymph ventral side
Firebugs in Spain showing aggregation behavior
Malvaceae
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Malvaceae, or the mallows, is a family of flowering plants estimated to contain 244 genera with 4225 known species. Well-known members of economic importance include cacao, cola, cotton, okra, roselle
Pyrrhocoris apterus
…containing tens to perhaps a hundred individuals. The firebug generally mates in April and May. Its diet consists primarily of seeds from lime trees and mallows (see below). It can often be found in groups near the base of lime tree trunks, on the sunny side. The firebug can be seen in tandem formation when…
Malva parviflora small
Swamp rose mallow
Common mallow (Malva sylvestris)
Alcea rosea, the hollyhock, is a common garden flower in Malvaceae