Firebug

Distribution: Europe to Mongolia & China

Diet: Herbivore

Social life: Gregarious

IUCN red list status: Not evaluated



This very common insect has 3 pairs of legs, 1 pair of segmented antenna, wings and sucking mouthparts (stylet) adapted to feed on a wide range of plants and plant seeds. It is distinguished by its bright red/orange coloration topped with black dots and characteristic markings.

Red firebugs go through simple metamorphosis (egg, nymph, adult) and typically have one generation per year. Females lay from 40 to 80 eggs in a lifetime. When reaching adulthood older nymphs look like the adults except are smaller and have reduced wing pads.

Despite the waring colours, Firebugs still have a lot of predators and so, as a defence mechanism, they have a scent gland that can emit a foul odour to discourage any predator about to eat them.

Firebugs were recently reported in North America, this being a case of exotic species introduction.