UoPHoCDA
Firebug - Pyrrhocoris apterus
The firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, is a common insect of the family Pyrrhocoridae. Firebugs generally mate in April and May. Their diet consists primarily of seeds from lime trees and mallows.
They can be seen in tandem formation when mating which can take from 12 hours up to 7 days. The long period of copulating is probably used by the males as a form of ejaculate-guarding under high competition with other males.
IMG_8317a
Firebug - Pyrrhocoris apterus
The firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, is a common insect of the family Pyrrhocoridae. Firebugs generally mate in April and May. Their diet consists primarily of seeds from lime trees and mallows.
They can be seen in tandem formation when mating which can take from 12 hours up to 7 days. The long period of copulating is probably used by the males as a form of ejaculate-guarding under high competition with other males.
IMG_8317a