Large Milkweed Bug Nymphs

Vibrant orange-red, early instar nymphs. They had tiny black wingpads.

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.

comments (3)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

"investigate the potential for nontarget effects of entomopathogenic fungi used in the biological control of ticks"

Can you translate this into my level, say a 8 year old :) Posted 7 years ago
1. Christine Young
  
  Lion
  
  Haha, sure thing. It just means that I researched what impact biocontrol methods of ticks would have on other nontarget critters. We were specifically investigating the use of a certain fungus (which kills ticks). We wanted to see if that fungus would also accidentally kill other arthropods thus rendering it not a good option for biocontrol. Posted 7 years ago
2. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks, very clear! Posted 7 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