Red murder bug
| Red murder bug | ||||||||||||
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Red murder bug ( Rhynocoris iracundus ) |
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| Rhynocoris iracundus | ||||||||||||
| ( Poda , 1761) |
The red murder bug ( Rhynocoris iracundus ) is a conspicuously black and red marked type of bug from the family of predatory bugs .
Distribution and habitats
The insects are distributed from southern Central Europe and the Mediterranean region to Asia Minor, Central Asia and China. Rhynocoris iracundus only lives in sunny and dry and warm places. The adults can be found predominantly in the herb layer on the flowers of umbellifers (Apiaceae). The larvae, on the other hand, stay almost exclusively on the ground and can be found under stones, dead wood , in plant cushions or in the loose litter.
Features and way of life
The red murder bug reaches body lengths between 13.8 and 17.6 millimeters. It is big and strong and shows a variable black and red pattern. The underside of the body is red and has rows of black spots. The scutellum is black with a red tip. The pronotum is red with black markings or black with a red center. In contrast to the curled murder bug ( Rhynocoris annulatus ), the corium and the cuneus of the forewings ( hemielytras ) are red, the clavus and the membrane are black, as are the kneeling antennae . The adults are always long-winged (macropter) and good fliers. The strong proboscis (rostrum) is tripartite. When disturbed, the bugs brush their proboscis over a cross-grooved groove located between the front hips, creating chirping sounds.
The animals feed on various insects, which are often larger than they are, exclusively predatory. The prey is quickly killed and sucked out by a sting that is also painful for humans. The larvae overwinter. The adults can be seen from June to around July.
literature
- E. Wachmann , A. Melber, J. Deckert: Bugs. Volume 1: Revision of the bugs in Germany, Austria and German-speaking Switzerland. Goecke & Evers, Keltern 2006, ISBN 3-931374-49-1 .
- E. Wagner: Heteroptera Hemiptera. In: P. Brohmer, P. Ehrmann, G. Ulmer (Hrsg.): Die Tierwelt Mitteleuropas. IV, 3 (Xa). - Leipzig 1959.
