Lygaeus equestris
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~50%
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 |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-And-Red Bug sighting in Mercantour National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 348th most-seen of the 412 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 50%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Black-And-Red Bug in Mercantour National Park on a given day, against under 5% in September to May, 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.
Among the best
Of the 6 parks where we can rate Black-And-Red Bug sightings, Mercantour National Park ranks 3rd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Vanoise National Park (France, about 10%) and Cévennes National Park (France, about 10%).
Same family: Lygaeidae
The closest relatives of the Black-And-Red Bug that you can see in Mercantour National Park (family Lygaeidae, Seed Bugs) are Spilostethus saxatilis (about 10%), Tropidothorax leucopterus (about 10%) and Indian Milkweed Bug (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 Mercantour National Park (5 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.
