Pyrrhocoris apterus

Firebugs generally mate in April and May. Their diet consists primarily of seeds from lime trees and mallows (see below). They can often be found in groups near the base of lime tree trunks, on the sunny side. 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. ==Development==

P. apterus was the subject of an unexpected discovery in the 1960s when researchers who had for ten years been rearing the bugs in Prague, Czech Republic, attempted to do the same at Harvard University in the United States. After the fifth nymphal instar, instead of developing into adults, the bugs either entered a sixth instar stage, or became adults with nymphal characteristics. Some of the sixth instars went on to a seventh instar, but all specimens died without reaching maturity. The source of the problem was eventually proven to be the paper towels used in the rearing process; the effect only happened if the paper towels were made in America. The researchers could replicate these results with American newspapers such as the New York Times, but not European newspapers such as The Times. The cause was found to be hormones found in the native balsam fir tree (Abies balsamea) used to manufacture paper and related products in America, and in some other North American conifers. This hormone happened to have a profound effect on P. apterus, but not on other insect species, showing the diversification of hormone receptors in the insects. ==Gallery==

File:Pyrrhocoridae - Pyrrhocoris apterus-1.JPG|Nymph File:Pyrrhocoris apterus nymph vs.jpg|Nymph ventral side File:Pyrrhocoris apterus group.jpg|Firebugs in Spain showing aggregation behavior File:Pyrrhocoris apterus on hibiscus2-Clapiers-4869~2015 10 04.JPG|A firebug feeding on mallow seeds (Hibiscus syriacus). File:FirebugsOnWaterPipe.jpg|Firebugs on a water pipe in SW France File:Firebugs on a water pipe in SW France2.jpg|Firebugs on a water pipe in SW France File:The firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus) spotted during monsoon season at Pilibhit tiger reserve.jpg|Firebugs on a tree in Pilibhit tiger reserve, India Possible confusion ==Notes==