Are these a pest?

Hello.

Whilst doing some gardening on a lovely warm day last week I noticed on one of our trees these,



Which I have been told are red cabbage sheild bugs / fire bugs / pyrrhocoris apterus.

There were many 10's of them crawling around. Some were in the cracks of the house wall. On a much cooler day they were still there but huddled together and less active.

Are they a nuissance to have in the garden. I have no garden knowledge what so ever.

Regards.

Y

 

Those look like the ones i had in my side garden last summer and they loved to munch on my Hosta's, very annoying bug!!

 

Ysatis they appear to eat mainly lime tree seed and can generally be found in the vicinity,they are not reported as being pests that do a lot of damage even though they can be numerous.

 

Thanks everyone for your replies.

If they aren't going to be a nuisance I shall leave them be.

Walnut, you say they eat mainly lime tree seed, I have only noticed them on one tree and I have no idea what kind of tree it is. Could this be a lime tree? I know I sound vague but it's a (fairly) recently bought house in France. I have been told the name of the tree by the previous owner, but I can't remember what he said it was called (in French). Next time I'm there, and if I happen to bump into him again, I will ask him to write it down. Failing that I will take a photo and post it to see if someone knows what it is.

Sorry for my ignorance, I have next to no knowledge of gardening. I'll be learning fast I think...we have an acre in France. Ekk!!

Regards,

Y

 

Hi.

I've looked 'lime' up in my dictionary ( should have done that first) and it jogged my memory of what he said. Yes, it's a lime tree.

How lovely. We have lunch under it on sunny days.

Regards.

Y