Quote:
Originally Posted by paul m
It looks like Pyrrhocoris apterus to me - Heteroptera - Bug Photo Gallery - Foto Galerie Wanzen is a good site to check bugs out.
This has long been a common species on the Mediterranean and other hot places but has over the last 10-20 years has spread over most of Western Europe. It's very common in Paris and has been found several times in southern UK.
As to whether it's a pest, I think not!  It is a detritivore and seed-eater - if you were growing members of the hibiscus family (Malvaceae) commercially it could be a problem but by and large it just helps to clean up plant and other debris - like many, many insects.
They are quite interesting animals and worth looking at; one thing which I've never seen is them being eaten by larger animals. Is this because they taste toxic or is their waarning colour very effective? Observations would be interesting ...... |
waaw!
thanks a lot for this information! this quite helps me a lot!
so
1# - I guess the identification is correct! I've not seen any other specie of this fellow than that one.
2# - They seem to reproduce very fast, because they are like millions! and they are many times close to each others. is this their normal behavior? or are they mating?
3# - i've several
Lavatera trimestris which are from Malvaceae family, that are in decomposition. I mean they are already dead, and as autumn is coming, I'm just waiting them to decompose on the land, as every year, but this year these fellows appeared, well since they are not malign , I'll let them over there, they can eat their seeds
they will end up growing somewhere, hehe!
I was just afraid they would eat the cabbages and other vegs that my grandma has on my backyard. so i decided to check over here, before she kills them all
)
so as they are seed eaters, I don't see any warn to take
I'll certainly check them, they are cute, and they are always in groups!
thanks a lot for the help!
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