| Firebug | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hemiptera |
| Suborder: | Heteroptera |
| Family: | Pyrrhocoridae |
| Genus: | Pyrrhocoris |
| Species: | P. apterus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pyrrhocoris apterus | |
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 or squash bug).[a][1] Pyrrhocoris apterus is distributed throughout the Palaearctic from the Atlantic coast of Europe to northwest China. It has also been reported from the United States, Central America, and India, and is also found in Australia.[2][3] It has been reported as recently expanding its distribution northwards into mainland United Kingdom and eastward on to the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.[4] They are frequently observed to form aggregations, especially as immature forms, containing from tens to perhaps a hundred individuals.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Brickfields Country Park: Cinnamon Bug – Corizus hyoscyami
- ^ Socha, Radomir (1993). "Pyrrhocoris apterus (Heteroptera)–an experimental model species: a review". European Journal of Entomology. 90: 241–286. ISSN 1210-5759.
- ^ Mata, Luis; Andersen, Alan N.; Morán-Ordóñez, Alejandra; Hahs, Amy K.; Backstrom, Anna; Ives, Christopher D.; Bickel, Daniel; Duncan, David; Palma, Estibaliz; Thomas, Freya; Cranney, Kate; Walker, Ken; Shears, Ian; Semeraro, Linda; Malipatil, Mallik; Moir, Melinda L.; Plein, Michaela; Porch, Nick; Vesk, Peter A.; Smith, Tessa R.; Lynch, Yvonne (June 2021). "Indigenous plants promote insect biodiversity in urban greenspaces". Ecological Applications. 31 (4): 12. Bibcode:2021EcoAp..31E2309M. doi:10.1002/eap.2309. hdl:11343/274717. PMID 33605502. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
- ^ Marren, Peter (2010). Bugs Britannica. Chatto & Windus. ISBN 978-0-7011-8180-2.