Qualify?
Mar 15, 2020 23:19:10 #
Almost stepped on these two. It would have been a terrible way to end a romantic afternoon. Can anyone tell me what they are?
Mar 15, 2020 23:30:13 #
Curmudgeon wrote:
Almost stepped on these two. It would have been a terrible way to end a romantic afternoon. Can anyone tell me what they are?
"Large Milkweed Bug" - Oncopeltus fasciatus
I only know because after I put milkweed in the yard to attract Monarchs I got a LOT of them and looked them up.
Mar 15, 2020 23:32:05 #
robertjerl wrote:
"Large Milkweed Bug" - Oncopeltus fasciatus
Close!
Mar 15, 2020 23:33:50 #
Mar 15, 2020 23:34:12 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Close!
https://www.google.com/search?q=milkweed+bug&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS852US852&oq=mil&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j35i39j0j69i65j69i60l3.2014j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_milkweed_bug
Went back and looked again - mine don't have the two white dots near the tail so then I guess these are "Small Milkweed Bugs"???????
Mar 16, 2020 00:34:23 #
robertjerl wrote:
"Large Milkweed Bug" - Oncopeltus fasciatus
I only know because after I put milkweed in the yard to attract Monarchs I got a LOT of them and looked them up.
I only know because after I put milkweed in the yard to attract Monarchs I got a LOT of them and looked them up.
Thanks for the ID. We, to the best of my knowledge, don't have Milkweed in southern Arizona.
Mar 16, 2020 01:34:54 #
Small milkweed bugs, yes. I usually mistake these for box-elder bugs, so you ain't alone! They share warning colors since all are toxic. Predators learn from eating one kind, and avoid all that look similar.
Mar 16, 2020 03:15:00 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
Small milkweed bugs, yes. I usually mistake these for box-elder bugs, so you ain't alone! They share warning colors since all are toxic. Predators learn from eating one kind, and avoid all that look similar.
The small may have the white dots as these. A sure difference is that the central black mark is one continuous band in the large.The small has it entirely in two parts, boardered with orange/ red. All three may form clusters with nymphs of all stages.
They eat other plants beside milkweed. Yarrow and others. Not eating milkweed the insect loses the bitter taste.
Here in Maryland we have all three. I may have posted a photo of all three.
I will this year. Easy finds.
By the way, yellowjacket wasps have no problem with taste. They kill and masticate these for the young. They raid the large clusters, picking off adult or young, no matter.
Nite, all.
Bill
Mar 16, 2020 09:27:27 #
Mar 16, 2020 10:59:02 #
Well taken and it's nice to see that there are those that have critters out and about. Ours have not come back from their winter vacations yet.
Mar 16, 2020 14:55:36 #
Curmudgeon wrote:
Thanks for the ID. We, to the best of my knowledge, don't have Milkweed in southern Arizona.
You have it, there are a bunch of different types, not just the "common" that is in the east. But these bugs also eat other plants.
Mar 16, 2020 15:58:01 #
robertjerl wrote:
You have it, there are a bunch of different types, not just the "common" that is in the east. But these bugs also eat other plants.
Oh well, shows how much I don't know. Thanks for the info
Mar 16, 2020 16:39:25 #
Mark Sturtevant wrote:
I thought I would find a good use for them.Small milkweed bugs....Predators learn from eating one kind, and avoid all that look similar.
I fed one to one of my Venus Fly Traps.
Almost killed the plant!
Mar 16, 2020 19:04:34 #
Curmudgeon wrote:
Almost stepped on these two. It would have been a terrible way to end a romantic afternoon. Can anyone tell me what they are?
Jack, excellent photo.
Greg
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