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.{{cite journal

| last = Schöfl

| first = Gerhard

|author2=Michael Taborsky

| title = Prolonged tandem formation in firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus) serves mate-guarding

| journal = Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

| volume = 52

| issue = 5

| pages = 426–433

| publisher = Springer Berlin / Heidelberg

| date = 2004-02-19

| doi = 10.1007/s00265-002-0524-9

| s2cid = 19526835

| issn = 0340-5443

}}

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.{{cite journal |doi=10.1073/pnas.54.2.411 |pmid=5217430 |author=Karel Slama |author2=Carroll M. Williams |name-list-style=amp |year=1965 |title=Juvenile hormone activity for the bug Pyrrhocoris apterus |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=54 |issue=2 |pages=411–414 |url=http://www.pnas.org/content/54/2/411.full.pdf |pmc=219680 |bibcode=1965PNAS...54..411S |doi-access=free }} 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. The most potent chemical component was later identified as juvabione, the methyl ester of todomatuic acid, which is produced by the trees in response to wounding; it mimics juvenile hormone closely at the chemical level, defending against vulnerable pests.{{cite journal|title=Juvenile Hormone: Identification of an Active Compound from Balsam Fir|author=W. S. Bowers|author2=H. M. Fales|author3=M. J. Thompson|author4=E. C. Uebel|journal=Science|date=1966-11-25|volume=154|issue=3752|pages=1020–1021|doi= 10.1126/science.154.3752.1020|pmid=5919750|bibcode=1966Sci...154.1020B |s2cid=19576252}}{{cite journal|title= Terpenoid-based defenses in conifers: cDNA cloning, characterization, and functional expression of wound-inducible (E)-α-bisabolene synthase from grand fir (Abies grandis) |author= Jörg Bohlmann |author2= John Crock |author3= Reinhard Jetter |author4= Rodney Croteau |name-list-style= amp |journal= Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A |date= 1998-06-09 |volume=95 |issue=12 |pages= 6756–6761 |pmc= 22624|pmid= 9618485 |doi=10.1073/pnas.95.12.6756|bibcode= 1998PNAS...95.6756B |doi-access= free }}

{{anchor|Firebug_on_mallow}}

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

{{anchor|Compare}}{{Gallery|title=Comparison of Pyrrhocoris and Corizus

|height=100

|File:Spanish firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus Pfaueninsel close up.jpg|Pyrrhocoris apterus

|File:Zimtwanze2.jpg|Corizus hyoscyami

}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.biopix.dk/Species.asp?Searchtext=Pyrrhocoris%20apterus&Category=Insekter Images of firebugs]
• [http://www.cwgsy.net/private/gsybiorec/entomology/files/pyrrhocoris_files/pyrrhocoris.html Firebugs in the Channel Islands]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q486957}}

Category:Pyrrhocoridae

Category:Hemiptera of Asia

Category:Hemiptera of Australia

Category:Hemiptera of Europe

Category:Hemiptera of North America

Category:Insects described in 1758

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus