Milkweed Bugs - Oncopeltus fasciatus

The milkweed is mostly gone, but I'm still finding clusters of milkweed bugs on remaining milkweed pods, in addition to other plants.

Habitat: Meadow edge

comments (8)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Fantastic! Do you know why they pile up like this? Posted 4 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  As Chun said below, they do it for protection and to deter predators. An interesting thing about this species of seed-eating insects is that they cannibalize each other. Posted 4 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Grouping and cannibalism = bad combo. Posted 4 years ago
  2. 1. Christine Young
      
      Lion
      
      Exactly. One minute, you're feeling safe and snuggly with your fellow bugs. But, the next minute you become your brother's smoothie. Posted 4 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        Yes, I use that a lot when somebody insults me:
        "that's the same thing my oldest brother used to say. and now I'm the oldest" Posted 4 years ago
      2. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Haha! Posted 4 years ago

_ChunXingWong_

Lion

Awesome photo! Young bugs usually pile up for protection. Together they look like one larger organism. And possibly to retain some heat too since bugs are terrible in producing their own body heat. Posted 4 years ago, modified 4 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Great, thanks! Posted 4 years ago

The Large milkweed bug

The milkweed bug, "Oncopeltus fasciatus", is a medium–sized hemipteran of the family Lygaeidae. It feeds mainly on grains, particularly those of the milkweed. Like all hemiptera, it feeds through a long mouthpart known as a rostrum. "O. fasciatus" is commonly used in science due to ease of rearing and ease of dissection.

Info 30 0

Similar species: True Bugs

Species identified by Christine Young