Scantius aegyptius
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%
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 |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Mediterranean Red Bug sighting in Los Angeles on a given day, based on 184 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 117th most-seen of the 851 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.
July to September
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Mediterranean Red Bug in Los Angeles on a given day, against under 5% in October to June, the lowest months. Those are among Los Angeles's driest months, with almost no rain against 75 mm in February.
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.
16th of 17
Of the 17 cities where we can rate Mediterranean Red Bug sightings, Los Angeles ranks 16th at under 5%. The best odds are in Izmir (Turkey, about 30%), Athens (Greece, about 20%) and Rome (Italy, about 20%).
Same order: Hemiptera
The closest relatives of the Mediterranean Red Bug that you can see in Los Angeles (order Hemiptera, True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and allies) are Red-Shouldered Bug (about 10%), Harlequin Bug (about 10%) and Large Milkweed Bug (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 Los Angeles (184 verified sightings), 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.
