Insect · GBIF taxon 2007764
Large Milkweed Bug
Oncopeltus fasciatusAlso known as Milkweed Bug
Large milkweed bugs advertise their toxic payload with bold black-and-orange X-shaped patterning across their wings. Nymphs and adults aggregate in conspicuous clusters on milkweed plants, using specialized piercing mouthparts to puncture seed pods and liquefy the nourishing seeds inside. By sequestering cardiac glycosides from their host plant, these insects render themselves intensely unpalatable to birds and other predators.
InsectAposematicHerbivore
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Milkweed seeds
- Milkweed sap
- Floral nectar
Predators
- Mantids
- Generalist spiders
- Parasitoid wasps
ThreatsHabitat loss and pesticide application
HabitatsDisturbed areas, roadsides, pastures, and milkweed patches
Life span1 to 2 months as adults
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderHemiptera
- FamilyLygaeidae
- GenusOncopeltus
- SpeciesOncopeltus fasciatus
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Harmless to humans and safe to observe up close.
Responsible observation
- Check milkweed pods: Look on maturing seed pods during late summer where adults and bright red nymphs cluster.
- Observe feeding: Watch for individuals using their long beak-like proboscis to pierce seed coats.
Co-occupant Sid Mosdell from New Zealand / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Co-occupant (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Host Plant (c) aarongunnar, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by aarongunnar · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Tyler Bishop, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tyler Bishop · cc-by
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