Taken in Fungalvaz in Portugal this Fire Bug ~ Pyrrhocoris apterus one of severl I found crawling about the Wild Hollyhock plant & the buds. The Firebug, Pyrrhocoris apterus, is a common insect of the family Pyrrhocoridae. Easily recognizable due to its striking red and black coloration, but may be confused with the similarly coloured though unrelated Corizus hyoscyami (cinnamon bug, squash bug) (see comparison).[1] Pyrrhocoris apterus is distributed throughout the Palaearctic from the Atlantic coast of Europe to northwest China. It has also been reported from the US, Central America and India. It has been reported as recently expanding its distribution northwards into mainland UK and eastward on to the coast of the Mediterranean sea They are frequently observed to form aggregations, especially as immature forms, with from tens to perhaps a hundred individuals. Firebugs generally mate in April and May. Their diet consists primarily of seeds from Lime Trees and mallows They can often be found in groups near the base of lime tree trunks, on the sunny side. Susan