Scantius aegyptius
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
Scantius aegyptius, the Mediterranean red bug, is a species of red bug in the family Pyrrhocoridae, that is a pest of plant species in the family Malvaceae. These ground-dwelling bugs feed on seeds and seed pods. They are known for their black and red coloration that employs aposematism to deter predators. Their head, antennae and legs are black, and their red back has two round black spots. Nymphs may be completely red, and develop increasing dark spots as they moult. Adults typically measure 7–9 mm in length.
Considered an invasive species in North America, it was first recorded in California in 2009. As of 2018, it could be found in most Southern California counties, as well as some in Central California. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Channel Islands National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Sierra Nevada National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain | |
| 3 | Doñana National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain |
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Mediterranean Red Bug sighting in Channel Islands National Park on a given day, based on 95 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 3rd most-seen of the 131 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
August and September
In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Mediterranean Red Bug in Channel Islands National Park on a given day, against about 10% in May, the lowest month. Those are among Channel Islands National Park's driest months, with almost no rain against 60 mm in January.
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Mediterranean Red Bug sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Mediterranean Red Bug sightings, Channel Islands National Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Sierra Nevada National Park (Spain, about 10%) and Doñana National Park (Spain, about 10%).
Same order: Hemiptera
The closest relatives of the Mediterranean Red Bug that you can see in Channel Islands National Park (order Hemiptera, True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and allies) are California Bordered Plant Bug (about 20%), North American Common Water Strider (about 10%) and Manzanita Leafgall Aphid (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Mediterranean Red Bug is recorded against all the insects logged in Channel Islands National Park (95 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
