2019

Firebugs are not Dangerous

New discoveries and unexpected encounters while relaxing in nature are not uncommon, especially during the time of berries and mushrooms. This summer, a new encounter in a park in Alūksne with unknown red-bellied insects on trees has raised concerns among local residents about whether they do not harm trees and whether protective measures need to be taken.

Mārtiņš Kalniņš, Senior Environmental Expert at JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM), tells that these red insects are firebugs or Pyrrhocoris apterus.

Firebugs are not dangerous or harmful to human beings or crops. They feed mainly on linden seeds, but can also suck juice. They are common in Latvia, in almost every country park, as well as in other plantations where there are trees – usually they choose linden trees. But they do not harm the trees,” tells Mārtiņš Kalniņš, LVM Environmental Expert.

The environmental expert points out that the second most common species of bed bugs in Latvian forests and meadows is the Graphosoma lineatum, which mainly are to be found on wild chervils or other plants of umbellifer family.

“There is no use to try to get these bugs out, because then you have to destroy or change their living environment. I recommend that you just enjoy this natural colour and shape!” says Mārtiņš Kalniņš, LVM Senior Environmental Expert.

There are about 15 000 insects living in Latvia and at least 5 000 other species of invertebrates (spiders, ticks, worms, crayfish, molluscs, etc.), of which 130 are extremely rare and protected.