Lygaeus equestris
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Lygaeus equestris, common name black-and-red-bug, is a species of seed bugs belonging to the family Lygaeidae, subfamily Lygaeinae. These bugs can reach about 11 to 12 millimetres (0.43 to 0.47 in) in length. They have a characteristic red-black pattern, fully developed wings and long, powerful legs. The hemelytra have two transverse bands that reach the margin and a round white spot on the membrane. Scutellum is without bristles but with tiny hairs. The black band close to the eye is wider than the same.
This species is very difficult to differentiate from Lygaeus simulans, that has a scutellum with long bristles, antennae with angulous tubercles and a larger red area on the head. The red-black pattern has a deterrent effect and serves to protect the insect (Müllerian mimicry or Batesian mimicry). By storing the toxic ingredients of their food plants, they are unpalatable to potential predators.
The nymphs and the imagos feed on juices of various plants, particularly milkweed (Vincetoxicum hirundinaria), Taraxacum species... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vanoise National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 2 | Cévennes National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 3 | Mercantour National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 4 | Pyrénées National Park | 🇫🇷 France | |
| 5 | Bavarian Forest National Park | 🇩🇪 Germany | |
| 6 | Sierra de Guadarrama National Park | 🇪🇸 Spain |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black-And-Red Bug sighting in Vienna on a given day, based on 21 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 575th most-seen of the 1406 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
October to January
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-And-Red Bug in Vienna on a given day, against under 5% in February to September, the lowest months.
Between 1 and 4 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black-And-Red Bug sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
12th of 12
Of the 12 cities where we can rate Black-And-Red Bug sightings, Vienna ranks 12th at under 5%. The best odds are in Sapporo (Japan, about 20%), Jerusalem (Israel, about 10%) and Stockholm (Sweden, about 10%).
Same family: Lygaeidae
The closest relatives of the Black-And-Red Bug that you can see in Vienna (family Lygaeidae, Seed Bugs) are Sycamore Seed Bug (about 10%), Melanocoryphus albomaculatus (about 10%) and Spilostethus saxatilis (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Black-And-Red Bug is recorded against all the insects logged in Vienna (21 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.
