Firebug
Pyrrhocoris apterus
This description was machine-translated.
How to spot it
The firebug (Pyrrhocoris apterus) is a noticeable, red-black patterned bug that likes to gather in large groups on sunny warm spots, often directly on the trunk of Stockrose, Malve, Eibisch, or Hibiskus. It mainly sucks on seeds and tender shoots, but usually causes little visible damage to the plant itself. You can recognize infestation by dense clusters of the insects, especially in spring and late summer at the base of the trunk and leaf axils.
Prevention
Since the firebug is mostly harmless, observing it is usually enough instead of intervening. If you want to limit the population, you can mechanically remove larger clusters and release them at a natural spot in the garden. Quickly remove fallen fruit, seed heads, and leaf litter around Malve plants; that takes away food and winter shelter. An open, well-ventilated spot without dense leaf litter at the trunk base makes the plant overall less attractive for mass gatherings.
Affected plants
These plants in our database are especially susceptible.
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