Insect · GBIF taxon 1047370
Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle
Labidomera clivicollisAlso known as Milkweed Leaf Beetle
Swamp milkweed leaf beetles are robust, domed leaf beetles adorned with bright orange or yellow wing covers marked with variable black spots. Both adults and grubs feed on milkweed plants, clever enough to cut leaf veins to drain sticky, toxic latex before eating the tissue. Like monarch butterflies, they sequester plant cardenolides to make themselves unpalatable to potential predators.
Brightly ColoredHost SpecificDefensive Chemical
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Swamp milkweed
- Common milkweed
- Butterfly weed
Predators
- Spiders
- Stink bugs
- Parasitoid wasps
ThreatsHabitat loss, pesticide exposure, and loss of native host plants
HabitatsWetlands, marshes, wet prairies, meadows, and native plant gardens
Life span1 year
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderColeoptera
- FamilyChrysomelidae
- GenusLabidomera
- SpeciesLabidomera clivicollis
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Inspect Host Plants: Look on the undersides of swamp milkweed leaves in summer to find adults and larvae.
- Watch Feeding Behavior: Look for beetles cutting main leaf veins to drain latex before eating.
- Handle With Care: Avoid squeezing beetles, as they release sticky defensive chemicals when distressed.
Co Occurring Herbivore Sid Mosdell from New Zealand / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Host Plant (c) aarongunnar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by aarongunnar · cc-by
Competitor (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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