{"product_id":"torrid-jewel-bug-pachycoris-torridus","title":"Torrid Jewel Bug (Pachycoris torridus)","description":"\u003cp\u003eAcross Central and South America, the Torrid Jewel Bug (Pachycoris torridus) turns up in so many colour combinations - red, orange, green, black, all glossy and domed like a tiny lacquered shield - that no two individuals seem quite alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePachycoris torridus belongs to the family Scutelleridae, sometimes called shield-backed bugs, whose enlarged scutellum covers the abdomen like a smooth, rounded dome. It is found from Mexico through to Brazil and Argentina, where it feeds on the sap of various plants, including the physic nut (Jatropha curcas) - a crop plant grown for biofuel production, which has brought the bug to the attention of agricultural researchers. Both adults and nymphs feed gregariously, and females display a notable degree of maternal care, standing guard over their egg clusters and early-stage nymphs to protect them from parasitic wasps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaternal care is relatively rare among true bugs and unusual among insects generally, making Pachycoris torridus a subject of interest for entomologists studying the evolution of parental behaviour. The egg-guarding female positions herself over her brood and will actively confront small predators and parasitoids - a level of investment that significantly improves offspring survival. It is a reminder that even among insects we casually call \"bugs,\" family life can be more attentive than we might expect.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Axisophy","offers":[{"title":"Large (50 × 70 cm | 20 × 28 in)","offer_id":45864087912609,"sku":"APW-BUG-TJB-P-500x700-AM-COL","price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"XLarge (70 × 100 cm | 28 × 40 in)","offer_id":45864087945377,"sku":"APW-BUG-TJB-P-700x1000-AM-COL","price":80.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0483\/1546\/5889\/files\/Axisophy-TorridJewelBug-mockup-1.jpg?v=1770826805","url":"https:\/\/axisophy.com\/products\/torrid-jewel-bug-pachycoris-torridus","provider":"Axisophy","version":"1.0","type":"link"}