I have seen some browny or greeny similar looking bugs before but not seen your ones before GuernseyDonkey. Are they only on Guernsey? They do look happy there head to tail. And I like their markings.
What a super picture of them GD. I wish I could bask in some sunshine right now. Thank you to you and madpenguin for sharing those great pictures with us
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LiriodendronScariff, County Clare, IrelandPosts: 7,868
Those are gorgeous, GD. The Internet says they are at the very northern edge of their range in Britain, and are very rare here, with a colony only in Devon. I guess Guernsey is warmer for them!
"The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life." Rabindranath Tagore
Yes, they certainly do look exotic and mask like. I am not sure if they are unique to Guernsey or the Channel Islands - perhaps Hampshire Hog or anyone on the Isle of Wight could let us know if they have seen them there. I have seen a colony of approx. 20 on the Guernsey south coast cliffs, basking in the warmth of the sun.This picture is another couple of firebugs in our wild flower patch during the summer.
Firebugs (Pyrrhocoris apterus) are quite common where I live (in France). As shown on @Guernsey Donkey2 's summer photo, they like to live (and feed) on the fruit of plants of the Malvaceae family (Hibiscus, Lavatera, etc.).
An interesting (and little known) fact regarding their colouration is that when the adults emerge from their last larvae stage, they are entirely red in colour. But they soon get their striking red and black colouration. Some years ago I was taking macro photos of a colony of firebugs; when I got home I transferred the photos on my computer to get a better view and was quite surprised to see this all-red specimen, which I had not even noticed when taking the photo. I rushed back to where I had taken it, but of course it was too late, all the specimens in the colony were red and black!
Well Papi jo, I didn't know that and I have (as far as I am aware) ever seen a newly hatched firebug - they seem to be saying beware I may be poisonous. I will have to look more carefully for the pure red critters, as they obviously breed in our garden.
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They put me in mind of African masks!!
Madpenguin how neat is that!