#common firebug

Firebug - Pyrrhocoris apterus

Am I featuring this conspicuous insect too soon since the last post made in February? Perhaps I am. However, this post is a special one for a trifecta of reasons. Firstly, the finding of these Firebugs signifies the first find of the year and thusly the insect post photographed in 2025! I was out walking and to my surprise I found this cluster of individuals huddling against the base of a mallow tree. Nearby to them on other mallow trees, there were a few more small-sized aggregations. Likely they had all awoken from their overwintering among the dried leaves and the tree's hollows to enjoy the warm sun against their short-winged backs. They seemed slow and docile, and it's likely too early for them to form mating pairs, but such a gathering may help get things started as temperatures warm over the next few weeks. It's reassuring to see them active so early, but I hope that they aren't too early as we aren't truly safe from winter in Toronto until the beginning of May. Luckily these Bugs are resilient and can retreat under the protection of their tree until spring weather is stable. However, seeing them active and together among many trees gives me hope that spring has arrived a bit earlier. It also gives me incentive to leave the leaf coverage at our house alone a bit longer for all the insects dreaming beneath. Of course, I keep the leaves free of actual litter, and the Jolly Rancher wrapper seen in Picture 9 was removed afterwards.

As for the second reason, the timing of these pictures - literally 3 days ago - was perfect to welcome the first day of spring and the gradual return of warming weather. It's just something done on this blog every time the seasons change to honor the many insects seen throughout the year. With their crimson colors, these Red Bugs are perfect to get everyone excited for spring! Finally, today's post is a special one as it signifies a change in photography and videography equipment. Last month, I upgraded my phone and jumped from my Google Pixel 4 to a Google Pixel 8a. I hesitated a bit on this change, but the Pixel 4's battery had deteriorated significantly as did its ability to hold a charge over the long term and overall performance. While I'm happy to have an upgraded phone, I'm deeply thankful for the Pixel 4's 5 years of loyal service and I'm especially thankful of how much it was able to capture and share here. Counting it up, the Pixel 4 has given the following in service to this blog:

24 gigabytes of insect pictures spread out over 7,008 pictures across 2020 to 2024

5.28 gigabytes of insect videos, spread out over 58 videos across 2020 to 2024

Countless more blurry pictures or small videos which were deleted during the insect observation process across 2020 to 2024

What a legacy to give, and a great technological companion for 5 years. If the 8a can achieve even half of that, I'd be satisfied. With the Pixel 8a, it works similarly to the 4 (with some refinements), and I've been learning the ins and outs while trimming most of the phone's bloat. These Firebugs represent the first step in relearning how to capture insects in a way that is natural but also clear, well-presented and artful to a degree. It immediate seems that it can better handle focusing and zooming in on insects, so hopefully this will carry into all future pictures (and videos too)! Image quality may change compared to what was shown previously, but hopefully it will be a positive change in the long run. Like the Pixel 4, I don’t intend to review the phone. I simply intend to continue to do my best and give these insects the showcasing they deserve. Lastly, thank you, dear reader, for taking the time to visit my blog, see the wonderful insects of Ontario (and other places), and read my writings and ramblings. You are appreciated, in every sense of the word.

Pictures were taken on March 18, 2025 with a Google Pixel 8a, the first showcase of many from a new phone. Happy First Day of Spring!

Firebug - Pyrrhocoris apterus

Valentine's Day may have been last week, but there's still one more mating pair of insects that I'd like to highlight while romance is still fresh in our minds. Their red color would have certainly been a good fit for the aforementioned holiday, but then it would be too easy. In any case, I've typically found this common specie of Red Bug in one of two scenarios: either as an individual insect running across the wilderness, like some of the images shown here; or as a member of an aggregation featuring dozens or hundreds of crimson-colored Bugs. For the latter, all nymph stages of this insect's life cycle can be observed alongside the adult forms as they aggregate along a tree, plant or secure man-made structure. While a part of an aggregation, these insects share a living area and food source and will stay close together to maintain warmth and protection from insectivorous threats (i.e. too many insects to track one or one insect may be eaten over another). However, while looking closer at several prior recorded and photographed Bug hordes, I noticed that there were no mating pairs of these Bugs to be found. Thusly, we come to the pair found among grass and wood chips. It seems that rather than mate as a part of the aggregation, the adult Bugs will strike out on their own to find mates, but is that the whole story?

Naturally, there might be a few individuals within such an aggregation who would form mating pairs as the purpose of these pheromone-signaled aggregations is to bring Bugs together for mutual benefit. Among these large insect groups, bringing them together can be a simple and effective way to find a mate if they are willing to wait for a few molts. Many individuals within Firebug aggregations (particularly the ones that I've seen) are nymphs, and thusly lack the appendages needed to mate. Moreover, while there are many insects and pheromones within an aggregation, perhaps there are too many? One of the crucial parts of an insect's life is to pass on its genes, but with so many males and females to choose from, who's to say that the efforts of one male won't be supplanted by another? As such, it may be in the best interest of the male Firebug's genes to bring a female away from the aggregation. Thusly the male Firebug practices mate guarding and remains attached to the female for hours to days of mating!

However, Common Firebug females are usually only receptive after feeding (eggs and mothers need nutrients) and they actually benefit from having multiple partners so that many of their eggs become fertilized. So perhaps a female Firebug benefits more from the aggregation? It sounds like it, but consider one particular long term decision: there is competition for nearby nesting sites, and amassing all the Firebug eggs in on area can prove disastrous should they be destroyed. Moving away from the aggregation may be beneficial in terms of dispersal and discovery of better sites. This is particularly crucial since this insect typically has reduced wings (but sometimes doesn't), and relies on running and scent detection to find new areas for food and egg placement. Although different in their approaches and needs, male and female Firebug adults at least want the same thing at the end of the day, and their cooperation together ensures a successful batch of new Firebugs will emerge after overwintering. Finally, even if laid far apart, it's never a lonely life as a hatched Firebug nymph; soon the pheromones are detected and the aggregations of these deep-red insect starts again!

Firebug (aggregation) - Pyrrhocoris apterus

I've noticed a good handful of large-sized insect aggregations over the last few weeks, and these pictures are an example of one of them. My favorite of the year actually. Many similar showcases have been seen on this blog before, but there's one little thing different about this collection of red individuals. As these Red Bugs gather on the sunny side of this tree to absorb the sun's warmth and drive their metabolism, I couldn't help but notice an individual different from the others. Specifically, the individual seen in pictures 2, 5 and 9. This is a freshly molted adult (technically termed as a "pharate") Firebug! It appears more fire-inspired than the adults, although it lacks the deep crimson along its body. That will appear after exposure to sunlight and the air gradually dries and darkens this specie's outer cuticle after molting. This will eventually result in the dark-colored face, crimson body, and black patterning appearing on the abdomen and the reduced wings (in the form of spots). Looking at the freshly molted Bug, it's hard to believe that such distinctive colors and patterns will manifest with the full sclerization of the adult exoskeleton, but time is a powerful thing in the insect world.

On the subject of exoskeletons, if you look carefully in Picture 1, you will find the shed exuvia of a Firebug next to the aggregation. While I didn't observe longer than a few minutes, it's very likely that were many more shedding events over the next few days given the number of pre-adult nymphs scampering alongside the adults. If they are to molt, it would be in their best interest to remain on the sunny side of the tree to help speed up the tanning process. The sooner they arrive at adulthood, the sooner they can release more pheromones in order to increase the aggregation's size and form mating pairs before the end of autumn. Since they're so exposed, hopefully their bright colors are enough to discourage hungry insectivores from trying a sample (especially since Firebugs aren't poisonous despite their bright colors). As mentioned in many prior posts, however, strength in numbers is their greatest defense, which is all the more reason to draw more Bugs into the aggregation as quickly as they detect and sprint!

Firebug (aggregation) - Pyrrhocoris apterus

In previous posts featuring this insect, the aggregations I've found were near the of a tree (and some of the surrounding plants) or nearby in the surrounding grasses. These Red Bugs had gathered to absorb the setting sun's heat and to search for seeds (their primary form of nutrition) and while aggregated they enjoy safety and comfort in numbers. All this is nothing new, but where urban environments and nature come together, the Common Firebug may be found in strange places. In today's post, the aggregations found here were either on or near a wooden utility pole! A while back, I noticed a similar event with a similar looking insect: the Eastern Boxelder Bug. Both insects had mistaken a piece of human construction for a tree. Looking at it from an insect's perspective, a large wooden object may very well be mistaken for tree, especially if it has similar scent cues still attached to it. A utility pole unfortunately cannot be used as a food source, but does have potential to act as a shelter from the elements or a sunning location. For the former use (as can be seen from Pictures 5 and 8), as many individuals as possible can cram into the cracks and hide away, similar to the recesses and holes of trees (similar behavior also occurs when they find their way inside a house).

Firebugs would have to rely on other creatures to expend the crevices in order to fit every Bug in the aggregation, but alas, nature is survival of the fittest. What may benefit the Firebugs more is a eusocial/colony structure whereby the younger nymphs hide away in the woody voids while the adults monitor and search for food. While not eusocial in any way, there are small inklings of such a system in the aggregations. If you look closely, your attention may be drawn more to the spotted, larger and redder adults and not the smaller nymphs that try and hide beneath them. Meanwhile, loose aggregations and single Firebugs scamper about on stone and concrete looking for a source of food and shelter. What can start as one individual in an area can quickly turn into many individuals gathering in an area thanks to potent pheromones. However, different pheromones from this insect can also cause aggregations to separate and scatter. This may be useful as a defense, but likely has more value in use for after mating (for egg dispersal) or if an aggregation grows too large and food sources are in short supply. With reduced wings to prevent flying away (in most cases) personal stuff is all the more important, and it's furthermore great that this specie can run very quickly should an aggregation need to suddenly form or disperse.

Firebug (aggregation) - Pyrrhocoris apterus

Valentine’s Day may have been yesterday, but we can still celebrate the day after with pictures of some delightful insects. Or perhaps, a whole army of them nestled in the sunlight and in the roots of this tree! It’s never easy to choose a red insect for such a day. Having already used the Red Milkweed Beetle and the Red Admiral to celebrate, I thought this year I would go with a very prominent and common Red Bug. Literally, for this Red Bug is indeed a Red Bug of the family Pyrrhocoridae, some of which are called stainers. Many of the insects in this family have beautiful red patterns (sometimes on the underside) highlighted with black markings. Here we find many individuals with these patterns in the different stages of their life cycle. Most of these individuals appear to be sub-adults, waiting for their final molt into the “winged” adult. For the former, you can tell by the presence of black-colored wingbuds and a row of spots running down the abdomen of the Bug. Unfortunately things don’t really improve on the wing front (unless very lucky) into adulthood as Common Firebugs have reduced wings, compensated by a solid running speed. Although this aggregation looks intense for the afflicted tree, there is likely little danger to it as these insects mostly feed on seeds and fruit, and the tree seems otherwise healthy. 

This tree is likely just a resting spot for these insects to settle in after the sun sets. There are plenty of nooks and crannies to hide in until the next day. They likely aggregate together for the safety in numbers while waiting to fully mature. After mating, most of them will likely go their separate ways to place eggs in optimal locations. Sometimes that means a warm house interior, but they’re just doing what they do, and while they can seem like pests, they aren’t dangerous at all. If you find any in your home or garden, I don’t recommend crushing them, for you see they don’t find each other by running around and bumping into one another. They communicate using scents and chemical markers in the form of pheromones to bring everyone within range to the safe haven. Squishing them may only release more of the pheromone and invite more guests and/or suitors to the party! It may also leave a nasty stain behind too, which exemplifies the “stainer” name. The insects will need to be relocated and the area rinsed of pheromones if you don’t want them coming back. Gardeners may consider using the hose to get rid of them, but I think these insects are alright and it’s both interesting and amazing to see such a level of aggregation (and teamwork to some extend) in insects outside of those in a colony or a gregarious swarm.

Hope you all had a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Firebug - Pyrrhocoris apterus

There’s something unusual going on with one of the individuals in this collection of Red Bugs. Can you figure out what it is? Feel free to reference other pictures on this blog of this insect to check for yourself. Its a small detail, but a very interesting one. Just to make sure all is fair, both individuals are indeed Common Firebugs and have reached their adult stage (no nymphs to speak of). It’s not the environment they were photographed in. While an urban bug, the Firebug tends to keep close to foliage as it finds a steady supply of food and needs to find fellow bugs to aggregate alongside. Have you noticed what is strange here? Well alright, I’ll tell you. The individual in pictures 6, 7 and 9 is a regular individual (a wild type) while the individual in pictures 1-5, 8 and 10 has fully developed and functional wings!  This is called a macropterous mutant. How curious! Here’s what is going on: Red Bugs (Pyrrhocoridae), like most other winged insects have fully developed wings. Most of them do anyway, there are exceptions to this rule, and the Common Firebug is one of those insects. 

Generally, the individuals found in the wild have reduced pairs of wings, rendering them flightless. They are reduced to such a degree that rear abdominal segments are visible. While flightless, they can sprint rather quickly making photography tricky if they feel pursued. Speed is definitely a handy advantage to evade predators. However, every now and then a mutation can arise that grants elongated wings! While not entirely sure how the wing genes get passed down to offspring (or whether the mutation is a sudden one) but having wings is a handy advantage over your flightless fellows (that is assuming the muscles attached to them work). If this Firebug individual can indeed fly, it can now cover more ground in search of food, mates and egg laying sites and reduce competition with its brothers and sisters. Flying up a plant is certainly more productive than crawling up it. It is more vulnerable away from an aggregate however and those wings have a high energy cost. There’s a lot of variables to consider here but in the end the genetics on display from Firebug populations speak for themselves. More research and photography will have to be done on this insect. Let’s see what 2021 and beyond brings us.