Despite their striking coloring, the red-black fire bug is one of the most common bug species in Germany. Despite their striking coloring, the animals are not poisonous.
They like to frolic under linden trees and mallow plants such as hibiscus, marshmallow, and hollyhock. They prefer to eat the falling plant seeds and sometimes herbaceous parts of other plants, although they also suck on the herbaceous part of them. The mating season begins for them in April or May. The reason for the infamous accumulations is pheromones. They communicate strongly via scents that we humans perceive as smelly. The insects are not beetles, but bedbugs, according to the NABU. They are not a rare phenomenon in spring, but they are not rare at all in the summer. The fire bugs are harmless to humans, but can be dangerous to pets and livestock. They can be found in gardens, on balconies, or in urban nature in general.