Adult and Nymph? I found these in the same area and am wondering if they are adult/nymph of the same species? The heads and bodies look similar and the antennae seem to have the same...

enygy Loc: LI, NY

I found these in the same area and am wondering if they are adult/nymph of the same species?
The heads and bodies look similar and the antennae seem to have the same number of joints.

Can anyone ID?

Thanks!

Adult?

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newtoyou Loc: Eastport

enygy wrote:

I found these in the same area and am wondering if they are adult/nymph of the same species?
The heads and bodies look similar and the antennae seem to have the same number of joints.

Can anyone ID?

Thanks!

See post more unknown true bugs from a few days back. Yes to adult and nymph. They appear to be a milkweed bug. Oncopeltus faciatus. Your locale?
Bill

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Nice images. We have them here also although I find that some are a deeper red than others (perhaps male and female). They are quite pretty when their wings are open.

napabob Loc: Napa CA

halloween bug..............

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

enygy wrote:

I found these in the same area and am wondering if they are adult/nymph of the same species?
The heads and bodies look similar and the antennae seem to have the same number of joints.

Can anyone ID?

Thanks!

I do not think my first ID is correct. No spots on abdomen in Oncopeltus nymphs. SO. I now say Lygaeus kalmii.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

napabob wrote:

halloween bug..............

Were you to mistake it for candy, nasty. I know of nothing that will eat them. A toad will grab and then use his front feet to rake it out. Toxic like a Monarch.
Bill

enygy Loc: LI, NY

Thanks for the ID whether it is Oncopeltus fasciatus or Lygaeus kalmii.

I shot these in a nature preserve on Long Island where there is a fair amount of milkweek growing.
Interesting that both these bugs and the monarch share the visibility of the orange/black to help ward off predators, and that both get their toxicity from the same plant

newtoyou wrote:

Were you to mistake it for candy, nasty. I know of nothing that will eat them. A toad will grab and then use his front feet to rake it out. Toxic like a Monarch.
Bill

enygy Loc: LI, NY

Thanks for the comment. I haven't seen them fly yet, but will keep an eye out for them.

sippyjug104 wrote:

Nice images. We have them here also although I find that some are a deeper red than others (perhaps male and female). They are quite pretty when their wings are open.

newtoyou Loc: Eastport

enygy wrote:

Thanks for the ID whether it is Oncopeltus fasciatus or Lygaeus kalmii.

I shot these in a nature preserve on Long Island where there is a fair amount of milkweek growing.
Interesting that both these bugs and the monarch share the visibility of the orange/black to help ward off predators, and that both get their toxicity from the same plant

Called convergent evolution. Any orange, red and yellow insects are generally toxic or noxious. Birds avoid monarchs, orange. If you see a one inch red and black 'ant', do you want to touch it? If the answer is no, you are smart. Then many insects would be tasty, but are orange. Batesian mimicry. Then there are insects that mimic them, Mullerian mimicry. I think it ends there. Just FYI.
BILL

enygy Loc: LI, NY

Bill-thanks the reminder/lesson on evolution. Pretty amazing stuff!
-Guy

newtoyou wrote:

Called convergent evolution. Any orange, red and yellow insects are generally toxic or noxious. Birds avoid monarchs, orange. If you see a one inch red and black 'ant', do you want to touch it? If the answer is no, you are smart. Then many insects would be tasty, but are orange. Batesian mimicry. Then there are insects that mimic them, Mullerian mimicry. I think it ends there. Just FYI.
BILL

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

I vote for Milkweed bug. I grow a lot of it for my Monarchs. This time of year I pick many off of my plants daily.

enygy Loc: LI, NY

Seems to be correct, that is assuming wikipedia is correct -

Lygaeus kalmii - small milkweed bug - has an "X" pattern on the back
Oncopeltus fasciatus - large milkweed bug - no "X" pattern

The adult above has an "X"

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

So I went outside to see what was available.
Of course no big ones were around but I got a shot of a small one with some blurred nymphs in the background.
It is breezy and this is a phone shot but you can clearly see the markings.

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