Foraging on Yellow. European Firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, on Taraxacum officinale, Dandelion, Océ-weerd, Meuse Corridor, Venlo, The Netherlands
A bit of Sun brought out lots of wonderfully bright Dandelions on the banks of the Meuse River. Bracing myself against the stiff, icy northeaster I yet had a pleasant, leisurely amble as I examined those flower heads. Fewer insects than I'd expected. But I did see this flaming Firebug. It seemed to be foraging but for lack of my magnifying glass I couldn't exactly see what was going on. Firebugs don't seek pollen or nectar but they suck up plant juices. Probably in this case the milk of Dandelion somewhere accessible to Pyrrhocoris's sharp snout in the flower.
Foraging on Yellow. European Firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, on Taraxacum officinale, Dandelion, Océ-weerd, Meuse Corridor, Venlo, The Netherlands
A bit of Sun brought out lots of wonderfully bright Dandelions on the banks of the Meuse River. Bracing myself against the stiff, icy northeaster I yet had a pleasant, leisurely amble as I examined those flower heads. Fewer insects than I'd expected. But I did see this flaming Firebug. It seemed to be foraging but for lack of my magnifying glass I couldn't exactly see what was going on. Firebugs don't seek pollen or nectar but they suck up plant juices. Probably in this case the milk of Dandelion somewhere accessible to Pyrrhocoris's sharp snout in the flower.