Thursday 28 August 2008

Gendarme bug or Firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus

We snapped this fabulous beetle whilst on holiday in France. It is called a Gendarme bugs or Firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, this was found on a mallow plant, and these insects apparentally feed on Mallow and Lime Tree seeds. They are common in mainland Europe and have been reported as recently expanding distribution northwards into mainland UK. We'll have to keep our eyes open!

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