Pyrrhocoris Apterus
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The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.
Pyrrhocoris Apterus
(known in some regions as the linden bug or fire bug), an insect of the order Hemiptera. The insect is bright-red with black spots on top; underneath it is black. The elytra are usually shortened, inferior wings are absent. The body length is 7–12 mm. It is found in central and southern Europe, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. It inhabits principally light forests and parks; the insects usually cluster on tree stumps or in the lower parts of tree trunks. It ingests fallen seeds and dead insects.
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.