Tetraopes pilosus
Chemsak, 1963
Pilose Milkweed Beetle
Tetraopes pilosus is a longhorned beetle in the Cerambycidae, described by Chemsak in 1963. It is a milkweed restricted to Quaternary sandhills of the central and southern Great Plains. are characterized by dense white and bright red-and-black aposematic coloration. The is closely associated with sand milkweed (Asclepias arenaria), feeding on both foliage as adults and roots as larvae.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Tetraopes pilosus: /tɛˈtra.oʊpiːz pɪˈloʊsəs/
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Identification
Tetraopes pilosus is among the largest in the Tetraopes. are immediately recognizable by their dense covering of white , which distinguishes them from other Tetraopes species. The body is predominantly bright red with black markings, with the majority of the body surface red. Males have longer than females. The are completely divided by antennal insertions, a diagnostic feature of the genus. The dense white pubescence is an to xeric sand dune , presumably functioning to prevent moisture loss and overheating.
Habitat
Quaternary sandhills and sand dune in the central and southern Great Plains. Associated with dry sandy soils and xeric conditions.
Distribution
United States. Restricted to Quaternary sandhills of the central and southern Great Plains, including northwestern Oklahoma and south-central Kansas.
Diet
feed on foliage of sand milkweed (Asclepias arenaria). Larvae feed in and around the roots of living milkweed plants.
Host Associations
- Asclepias arenaria - obligatePrimary plant; feed on foliage, larvae feed on roots. Both and plant are restricted to Quaternary sandhills of the midwestern U.S.
Life Cycle
Larvae develop in and around the roots of living milkweed plants. occurs in the soil. emerge and feed on plant foliage.
Behavior
exhibit minimal escape when disturbed, consistent with their high level of chemical protection from cardenolide . Adults use -cutting behavior prior to feeding: they cut through the leaf midrib about a quarter of the way back from the tip, allowing latex-filled sap to drain from tissues before feeding at the tip.
Ecological Role
Specialized herbivore of sand milkweed. Sequesters cardiac glycosides (cardenolides) from plant for chemical defense, making both larvae and unpalatable to . The bright red-and-black coloration serves as aposematic warning coloration.
Similar Taxa
- Tetraopes quinquemaculatusSmaller associated with milkweed (Asclepias tuberosus); lacks dense white and has more extensive black markings.
- Tetraopes tetraophthalmusAssociated with common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca); lacks dense white and has different elytral pattern.
- Other Tetraopes speciesT. pilosus is distinguished by its large size, dense white , and restriction to sand milkweed in sandhill .