Diet

• Adults and nymphs: Primarily feed on seeds, using their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract nutrients from developing or mature seeds.

• They are associated with a variety of flowering plants, particularly plants in the milkweed family (Apocynaceae) and related seed-producing plants.

• Individuals may congregate on maturing seed pods, fallen seeds and developing fruits.

• Like other seed-feeding lygaeids, they can occasionally become locally abundant when their preferred host plants are producing seeds.

Range

• Lygaeus analis is a true bug in the family Lygaeidae, subfamily Lygaeinae, genus Lygaeus.

• It is a Neotropical species, occurring primarily in Mexico, Central America and parts of South America.

• It is particularly associated with warm tropical and subtropical regions.

Habitat

• Found in tropical and subtropical forests, dry forest, scrub, grasslands, agricultural areas, roadsides and disturbed habitats.

• Adults are usually encountered on flowering and seed-producing plants.

• They may be particularly noticeable when host plants are producing abundant seed.

• Fallen vegetation and seed-rich areas can also provide suitable habitat.

Size

• Adult length: approximately 10–12 mm (0.4–0.5 in).

• Body elongated and somewhat oval.

• Typically displays the characteristic red-and-black colouration found in many Lygaeus species.

• The head and central portions of the body are dark, while the forewings bear contrasting red or orange-red markings.

• The abdomen may show contrasting red and black areas along the margins.