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Red Bug

 

Scantius aegyptius (L) -- Hemiptera:  Pyrrhocoridae

 

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      Although there are several insects with red and black coloration, another brightly colored, seed feeding red bug in the family Pyrrhocoridae was discovered in southern California in 2009 and is now established.  More attention to the new arrival is large aggregations of nymphs and adults feeding on annual broadleaf weeds in parks and fields.  The present invader, Scantius aegyptius, is native to the eastern Mediterranean.

 

       Adults are 7 to 9 mm long with red and black coloration.  The head, antennae and legs are black.  The forewings, which cover the back, bear two round black spots against a bright orange-red background.  The thoracic sternites are red-orange and the abdominal sternites are bright orange-red with various black markings on the sides.  Nymphs may be completely red, with darker maculation developing as they molt.  Males are distinct from females in having enlarged front femora.

 

       There is a lack of information on the biology of Scantius species but they are not considered to be harmful.  In California, Scantius has been found feeding on the seeds and stems of Knotweed (Polygonum spp.) and Malva (Malva parviflora).  It is believed that S. aegyptius will also feed on the seeds of some annual herbaceous plants.

 

       When large numbers of nymphs and adults migrate they may cause public annoyance and concern. Scantius aegyptius is established in southern California but may spread northward.

 

 

REFERENCES:

 

Aukema, Berend & Christian Rieger, eds.  2001.  Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region, vol. 4: Pentatomorpha I: Aradidae, Lygaeidae, Piesmatidae, Malcidae, Berytidae, Colobathristidae, Largidae, Pyrrhocoridae.  The Netherlands Entomological Society. ISBN 90-71912-21-3.

 

Bryant, Peter J.  2009.  Invasion of Southern California by the Palearctic pyrrhocorid Scantius aegyptius (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae).  The Pan-Pacific Entomologist. 85 (4):  190–193.

 

Meeds, Andrew W. & Michael J. Plagens.  2021.  Populations of the invasive Mediterranean red bug, Scantius aegyptius (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae), now widely established around Phoeniz, Arizona, U.S.A.  The Pan-Pacific Entomologist 97 (3):  129-138. 

 

Shazly, E.  1993.  Preliminary studies on the seasonal occurrence and biology of Scantius aegyptius (L.) (Hemiptera, Heteroptera:  Pyrrhocoridae) in Egypt.  Bull. Ent. Soc. Egypt 71:  131-138.

 

Walker, Francis.  1871.  Catalogue of the Specimens of Hemiptera Heteroptera in the Collection of the British Museum, pt. IV. British Museum.

 

FURTHER RELATED REFERENCES:

 

Chiappini, E., S. V. Triapitzin & A. Donev.  1996.  Key to the Holarctic species of Anagrus Haliday (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) with a review of the Nearctic and Palaearctic (other than European) species and descriptions of new taxa.  Journal of Natural History 30:  551-595.

 

Triapitzin, S. V.  1995a.  The identities of Anagrus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) egg parasitoid of the grape and blackberry leafhoppers (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in California.  Pan-Pacific Entomol. 71 (4):  250-251.

 

Triapitzin, S. V.  1995b.  A review of the Australian species of Anagrus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae).  Russian Entomological Journal 4 (1-4):  105-108.

 

Triapitzin, S. V.  1997.  The genus Anagrus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) in America south of the United States: a review.  Ceiba (Zamorano, Honduras). 38 (1):  1-12.

 

Triapitzin, S. V.  1998.  Anagrus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) egg parasitoids of Erythroneura spp. and other leafhoppers (Homoptera: Cicadellidae) in North American vineyards and orchards: a taxonomic review.  Transactions of the American Entomological Society. 124 (2):  77-112.

 

Triapitzin, S. V. & D. Strong.  1995.  A new Anagrus (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), an egg parasitoid of Prokelisia spp. (Homoptera: Delphacidae).  Pan-Pacific Entomol. 71 (4):  199-203.

 

Triapitzin, S. V., R. F. Mizell, J. L. Bossart & C. E. Carlton.  1998.  Egg parasitoids of Homalodisca coagulata (Homoptera: Cicadellidae).  Florida Entomologist 81 (2):  241-243.

 

Walker, G. P., N. Zareh, I. M. Bayoun & S. V. Triapitzin.  1997.  Introduction of western Asian egg parasitoids into California for biological control of beet leafhopper, Circulifer tenellus.  Pan-Pacific Entomologist 73 (4):  236-242.