May 18, 2026, 1:22 pm | Read time: 5 minutes
In spring, firebugs are particularly visible as their mating season begins. The red and black patterned insects may appear striking and are often perceived as dangerous, but they are harmless to humans. Firebugs–also known as fire beetles or cemetery bugs–primarily feed on plant sap, such as from hollyhock seeds. In fall, they seek sheltered, warm places for their winter rest and sometimes wander into houses or apartments. Those who wish to remove the insects gently can use various home remedies.
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Overview
Should you combat firebugs?
Firebugs usually don’t disappear on their own, as they have few natural enemies. Their striking red and black coloration sends a clear warning signal to other animals. Birds, for example, usually only encounter them once: The unpleasant taste ensures that they avoid firebugs in the future. When threatened, the insects also release special pheromones and emit an intense odor to deter attackers.
How can you get rid of firebugs?
Animal-loving people sweep larger gatherings of firebugs in the garden with a hand broom and dustpan and release them at a safe distance from the garden in a dry and warm place. However, nature has no sympathy for gardeners, and new bugs are guaranteed to migrate from the other side of the garden.
A proven strategy to reduce firebugs in the garden is to remove the faded fruit stands from the garden. However, do not dispose of the fruit stands infested with firebugs in the compost, but in the organic waste. Otherwise, the bugs will soon crawl through the garden again.
Preventing firebugs from entering the house
It’s not uncommon for the red crawlers to make themselves comfortable in the home, but this can be prevented. One should ensure that old leaves or fruit stands are not stored near house walls or doors. Otherwise, the path is not far.
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Getting rid of firebugs with home remedies
Don’t feel like picking up the pesky tenants one by one? No problem, as there is a simple, effective home remedy against firebugs. Everything you need is usually already at home. However, this method is not animal-friendly.
Ingredients:
- 1⁄2 liter of water
- A dash of dish soap
- Spray bottle
Instructions:
- Fill the water with a dash of dish soap (biodegradable) into a spray bottle.
- Spray the mixture generously on the bug nest. This way, you can target firebugs effectively.
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What do firebugs eat?
It also helps to deprive the bugs of their favorite food. Then they will no longer swarm over the garden. This includes:
- Acacias
- Mallows
- Robinias
- Horse chestnuts
- Hollyhocks
Note: If you want to completely get rid of firebugs, you should avoid chemical agents. Insecticides not only decimate the bugs in the garden but also all beneficial insects like bees and bumblebees.
Are firebugs harmful or just a nuisance?
Firebugs appear in swarms. And that can be quite annoying. Unlike vine weevils, aphids, spotted wing drosophila, plum moths, or snails, firebugs are not really harmful. Experts agree that they do not destroy plants. Therefore, you don’t necessarily have to get rid of firebugs. This is also confirmed by Silvia Teich from the Nature Conservation Association of Germany: “No one needs to worry if firebugs are in the garden. They are neither harmful to humans nor the garden–on the contrary: They act as garbage collectors, as they also suck on dead insects besides plants.”
An exception is mallow plants, like the hollyhock. Firebugs suck the sap from the seeds. For the current plant, this is not a big deal, but reproduction can be affected.
Can firebugs bite?
There is no need to fear a bite. Firebugs do not bite, confirms the expert, but they emit a foul-smelling secretion when they feel threatened.
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Where do firebugs live?
In most cases, firebugs prefer the vicinity of deciduous trees. They make themselves comfortable in the leaves beneath them. It is not uncommon for them to sit in large groups on tree bark or by the roadside due to the weather, as they also want to sunbathe and warm up in good weather conditions.
How do firebugs reproduce?
Surely everyone has seen it at some point: Two firebugs are connected at the rear. This is how they mate. According to the Federal Environment Agency, this ritual can last up to 30 hours. As a result, the female can lay 50 to 60 eggs, and within a year, the larvae develop into adult bugs.