Nymph of Indian Red Bug

7158.       These are numerous in this province, looking forward to know the ID of this organism. Kerala, India.

Number 7158. This appears to be a nymph of Probergrothius sanguinolens (Hemiptera/Heteroptera: Pyrrhocoridae), known as the Indian red bug – Click here for an image. They feed on a range of seeds and are particularly common on the seeds of plants in the mallow family (Malvaceae), especially those in the genus Sterculia (tropical chestnuts) and other. They also feed on freshly dead animal matter with early instar nymphs seeming to prefer animal matter to seeds.