PromotedSpecies introCountry intro
Large Milkweed Bug
Orange and black bug with forward-pointing triangles anteriorly and orange backward-pointing triangles posteriorly, separated by a black band in the middle.
Oncopeltus fasciatus is a model organism, and is often reared for laboratory experiments. These insects are very easy to rear and handle, have a short developmental time, and high fecundity. When I was in graduate school, I reared these insects and helped conduct experiments to investigate the potential for nontarget effects of entomopathogenic fungi used in the biological control of ticks.
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.
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