Oncopeltus sexmaculatus

Stål, 1874

six-spotted milkweed bug

Oncopeltus sexmaculatus, commonly known as the six-spotted milkweed , is a in the Lygaeidae. The is distributed across islands in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, and North America. Like other members of the Oncopeltus, it is associated with milkweed plants. The specific epithet 'sexmaculatus' refers to six spots, likely describing a distinctive color pattern on the body.

Oncopeltus sexmaculatus by (c) Francisco Farriols Sarabia, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Francisco Farriols Sarabia. Used under a CC-BY license.

Biologia Centrali-Americana - Oncopeltus sexmaculatus by Bale & Danielsson; Bannwarth, Th.; Cambridge Scientific Instrument Company; Godman, Frederick Du Cane; Hanhart; Horman-Fisher, Maud; Knight, H.; Mintern Bros.; Purkiss, W.; Salvin, Osbert; Saunders, G. S.; Schlereth, M. v.; Sharp, M. A.; Taylor & Francis; Wilson, Edwin. Used under a Public domain license.

Six-spotted milkweed bug (cropped) by cricketsblog. Used under a CC BY 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Oncopeltus sexmaculatus: /ɒŋkəˈpɛltəs sɛksˌmækjʊˈleɪtəs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

Distribution

Found on islands in the Caribbean Sea, Central America, and North America. Specific localities include Cuba, Jamaica, Guatemala, Honduras, Isle of Pines, Mexico, and the USA.

Host Associations

Asclepias - associationMilkweed bugs in the Oncopeltus are strongly associated with milkweed plants (Asclepias), though specific records for O. sexmaculatus require confirmation

Similar Taxa

Oncopeltus fasciatus; similar orange and black coloration and milkweed association, but O. sexmaculatus has six spots rather than the broad transverse bands of O. fasciatus

More Details

Taxonomic Note

Catalogue of Life lists this as an 'ambiguous synonym', suggesting taxonomic uncertainty or potential confusion with related that requires further investigation