Scantius aegyptius

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Cladus: Protostomia
Cladus: Ecdysozoa
Cladus: Panarthropoda
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Hexapoda
Classis: Insecta
Cladus: Dicondylia
Subclassis: Pterygota
Cladus: Metapterygota
Infraclassis: Neoptera
Cladus: Eumetabola
Cladus: Paraneoptera
Superordo: Condylognatha
Ordo: Hemiptera
Subordo: Heteroptera
Infraordo: Pentatomomorpha
Superfamilia: Pyrrhocoroidea

Familia: Pyrrhocoridae
Genus: Scantius
Species: Scantius aegyptius
Name

Scantius aegyptius (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms

Cimex aegyptius Linnaeus, 1758

References
Primary references

Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Editio Decima, Reformata. Tomus I. Holmiæ (Stockholm): impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii. 824 pp. DOI: 10.5962/bhl.title.542 [first availability: page 447] BHL Reference page.

Links

Scantius aegyptius Taxon details on Fauna Europaea
ZooBank: 94F98C00-45AF-496A-BB65-3B5D14A450C3

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.[1][2][3] As of 2018, it could be found in most Southern California counties, as well as some in Central California.[4]

These ground-dwelling bugs feed on seeds and seed pods.[4] 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 molt. Adults typically measure 7 - 9 mm in length.[4]
Mediterranean red bug, Scantius aegyptius

Considered an invasive species in North America, it was first recorded in California in 2009.[5]

See also

Pyrrhocoris apterus
Corizus hyoscyami

References

"Scantius aegyptius". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
"Scantius aegyptius Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
"Scantius aegyptius Overview". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 2018-04-07.
"Red Bug". Center for Invasive Species Research, University of California Riverside. Retrieved 2021-11-02.

Bryant, Peter J. (October 2009). "Invasion of Southern California by the Palearctic pyrrhocorid Scantius aegyptius (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae)". The Pan-Pacific Entomologist. 85 (4): 190–193. doi:10.3956/2009-27.1.

Further reading

Aukema, Berend; Rieger, Christian, eds. (2001). Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palaearctic Region, vol. 4: Pentatomorpha I: Aradidae, Lygaeidae, Piesmatidae, Malcidae, Berytidae, Colobathristidae, Largidae, Pyrrhocoridae. The Netherlands Entomological Society. ISBN 90-71912-21-3.
Walker, Francis (1871). Catalogue of the Specimens of Hemiptera Heteroptera in the Collection of the British Museum, pt. IV. British Museum. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.9254.