Fire Bug - Pyrrhocoris apterus

I noticed this little Firebug whilst I was scouring the garden for something to blip this afternoon. I love how his colouring clashes with the bright pink of the spent rose flower.

The Firebug is an attractive and conspicuous little bug which often occurs in swarms, especially in early spring when the adults first emerge from their hibernation in the soil. They occur in woodland margins and clearings and grassy scrubby places with bare ground and suitable hibernation sites. They are widespread in southern and central Europe, but very rare and wholly in Southern Britain. They are 8-11mm in length and eat mainly seeds and other plant material.