Milkweed

Guides

Aphis nerii
oleander aphid, milkweed aphid, sweet pepper aphid, nerium aphid
Aphis nerii is a cosmopolitan aphid species in the family Aphididae, primarily associated with plants in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae), especially milkweeds (Asclepias) and oleander (Nerium oleander). The species exhibits complex reproductive strategies including parthenogenesis and viviparity, with winged and wingless female morphs. It is a significant pest of ornamental plants and a known vector of multiple plant viruses. The species has been introduced widely beyond its native range and is now found in tropical, Mediterranean, and temperate regions globally.
aphid pest milkweed monarch-butterfly virus-vector parthenogenesis viviparity chemical-defense cardiac-glycoside ornamental-pest biological-control integrated-pest-management
Chrysochus cobaltinus
Cobalt Milkweed Beetle, Blue Milkweed Beetle
Chrysochus cobaltinus is a leaf beetle in the family Chrysomelidae, notable for its iridescent cobalt-blue coloration and specialized association with milkweed and dogbane plants. The species sequesters toxic cardenolides from its host plants for chemical defense against predators. Adults emerge in early summer and remain on host plants for approximately six weeks. The species exhibits polygamous mating with extended post-copulatory mate guarding by males, and hybridizes with its sister species C. auratus in narrow contact zones.
leaf-beetle milkweed dogbane cardenolide chemical-defense sequestration polygamy mate-guarding hybridization host-race western-North-America
Contarinia undescribed-species-on-milkweed
An undescribed species of gall midge in the genus Contarinia (family Cecidomyiidae) that forms galls on milkweed plants (Asclepias spp.). The species has not been formally described in scientific literature but has been documented in field observations. As with other Contarinia species, it likely has a narrow host association with milkweed. The informal designation indicates ongoing taxonomic work is needed.
gall-midge Cecidomyiidae undescribed-species milkweed gall-former North-America herbivore pending-taxonomy
Cycnia
Cycnia is a genus of tiger moths in the family Erebidae, erected by Jacob Hübner in 1818. The genus contains several North American species, including the well-studied dogbane tiger moth (Cycnia tenera), which is known for its sophisticated anti-bat acoustic defenses. Species in this genus are typically associated with dogbane and milkweed plants, sequestering cardiac glycosides for chemical protection.
tiger-moth acoustic-defense anti-bat dogbane milkweed cardiac-glycoside tymbal ultrasound jamming aposematism Müllerian-mimicry
Cycnia tenera
dogbane tiger moth, delicate cycnia
Cycnia tenera, commonly known as the dogbane tiger moth or delicate cycnia, is a North American moth in the family Erebidae. Adults display white wings with buttery yellow forewing margins and a yellow body marked with black spots. The species is chemically defended, sequestering cardiac glycosides from its larval host plants. It has been extensively studied for its sophisticated anti-predator defense: emitting ultrasonic clicks that jam bat echolocation and serve as aposematic warnings. The moth occurs across much of North America and flies both day and night.
moth tiger-moth ultrasound bat-defense aposematism chemical-defense dogbane milkweed North-America day-flying-moth
Euchaetes
tussock moths, milkweed tussock moths, milkweed tiger moths
Euchaetes is a genus of arctiine tussock moths in the family Erebidae, described by Thaddeus William Harris in 1841. The genus includes species commonly known as milkweed tussock moths or milkweed tiger moths, many of which are specialized feeders on milkweed plants (Asclepiadaceae). Caterpillars of well-known species such as E. egle sequester cardiac glycosides from their host plants, making them unpalatable to predators. Adults of some species have evolved ultrasonic acoustic defenses against bat predation, representing a notable example of acoustic aposematism.
tussock-moth milkweed aposematism acoustic-defense cardiac-glycoside-sequestration Müllerian-mimicry Arctiinae Erebidae Lepidoptera North-America Mexico Sonoran-desert genus-level-information-only
Euchaetes elegans
Elegant Pygarctia, Elegant Tussock Moth
Euchaetes elegans is a moth in the family Erebidae, subfamily Arctiinae, first described by Richard Harper Stretch in 1874. It ranges across the southwestern United States and extends south through Mexico to Colombia. Adults are active during summer months, with flight activity recorded from July through September. The larvae feed exclusively on Asclepias species (milkweeds), sequestering cardiac glycosides for chemical defense.
moth erebidae arctiinae milkweed cardiac-glycosides aposematism southwestern-north-america neotropical
Labidomera
milkweed leaf beetle
Labidomera is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) in the tribe Chrysomelini. The genus includes several species, with L. clivicollis being the most studied and widely distributed. Members are strongly associated with milkweed plants (Asclepias) and related genera. The genus exhibits unusual larval locomotion and participates in Müllerian mimicry rings with other orange-and-black milkweed insects.
leaf-beetle Chrysomelidae milkweed Müllerian-mimicry cardenolide-sequestration photoperiodism cannibalism sexual-transmission-of-parasites
Labidomera clivicollis
Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle, Milkweed Leaf Beetle
Labidomera clivicollis is a large leaf beetle specialized on milkweeds (Asclepias spp.). Adults and larvae feed on milkweed foliage, sequestering cardiac glycosides for chemical defense. The species exhibits aposematic orange and black coloration as part of a Müllerian mimicry complex with monarch butterflies and other milkweed feeders. Reproduction is photoperiodically controlled, with short day lengths inducing adult diapause. Larvae suffer high predation mortality, particularly from ground-dispersing predators.
leaf-beetle milkweed aposematic-coloration Müllerian-mimicry chemical-defense cardenolide-sequestration photoperiodism sexually-transmitted-parasite cannibalism predation-mortality swamp-milkweed common-milkweed Chrysomelidae herbivore diapause Kirby-1837
Lygaeus kalmii
Small Milkweed Bug, Common Milkweed Bug
Lygaeus kalmii is a seed bug in the family Lygaeidae known for its bright orange-red and black aposematic coloration. Adults measure 10–12 mm and feed primarily on milkweed seeds and flower nectar, though they exhibit dietary flexibility including scavenging on dead insects and feeding on seeds of other plants such as composites. The species sequesters cardiac glycosides from milkweed, making it unpalatable to predators. Unlike the migratory large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus), L. kalmii is non-migratory and overwinters as adults. Two subspecies are recognized: L. k. kalmii in western North America and L. k. angustomarginatus in the east, distinguished by differences in the white markings on the membranous portion of the forewings.
Hemiptera Lygaeidae seed-bug milkweed aposematic-coloration Müllerian-mimicry chemical-defense cardiac-glycoside non-migratory
Oncopeltus
large milkweed bugs
Oncopeltus is a genus of seed bugs in the family Lygaeidae containing at least 40 described species. The genus is best known for the large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus), a widely studied species that feeds on milkweed seeds and exhibits striking aposematic orange and black coloration. Members of this genus are specialized feeders on plants in the family Apocynaceae, particularly milkweeds (Asclepias), and have evolved the ability to sequester toxic cardiac glycosides from their host plants for defense. Several species undergo annual migrations between northern breeding grounds and southern overwintering areas.
seed-bug milkweed aposematic-coloration migratory model-organism cardiac-glycoside-sequestration Müllerian-mimicry
Oncopeltus guttaloides
Oncopeltus guttaloides is a seed bug in the family Lygaeidae, closely related to the well-studied large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus). The species occurs in southern Central America, the Caribbean, and the southern United States. Its nymphs are gregarious and form large clusters on host plants. Like other Oncopeltus species, it is associated with milkweed plants and exhibits aposematic coloration.
seed-bug milkweed aposematic gregarious Lygaeidae
Pelonides
Pelonides is a genus of checkered beetles in the family Cleridae, established by Kuwert in 1894. The genus comprises approximately six to seven described species distributed in North America. Members of this genus are small beetles typically found on flowers, particularly milkweeds (Asclepias species), where they have been documented feeding on pollen and nectar alongside other flower-visiting beetles.
Cleridae checkered-beetle flower-visitor milkweed North-America Arizona pollen-feeder Coleoptera
Polistes dominula
European Paper Wasp
Polistes dominula is a highly successful invasive social wasp native to Eurasia that has established populations across North America, South America, New Zealand, South Africa, and other regions. First detected in North America near Boston in 1978, it has become one of the most abundant wasps on the continent. The species builds small, exposed paper nests in protected locations and preys primarily on live insects, particularly caterpillars. Unlike yellowjackets, it does not scavenge for meat or sugar. Its rapid spread has been attributed to ecological flexibility, superior competitive ability, and tolerance of human-altered environments.
invasive-species social-wasp paper-wasp predator pollinator urban-ecology eusocial nest-construction biological-control thermal-biology spatial-learning vibrational-communication aposematism honest-signal overwintering diapause Polistes Vespidae Hymenoptera North-America Europe New-Zealand South-Africa South-America monarch-butterfly caterpillar-predation nest-architecture gyne foundress dominance-hierarchy climate-change-impact energetics metabolic-rate microclimate suburban-habitat anthropogenic ornamental-pest vineyard-pest fruit-damage stinging-insect venom poison-gland warning-coloration Zahavian-signal Strepsiptera parasitoid Xenos behavioral-plasticity foraging learning memory thermoregulation ectothermy endothermy solar-radiation nest-temperature brood-development colony-survival multiple-founding single-founding season-length latitude temperate Mediterranean hibernacle overwintering-costs climate-warming range-expansion competition native-species-displacement 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ReplyDelete RepliesReplyOut prairieSeptember 8:02 keeping cabbage worm seen RepliesReplyAnonymousSeptember 13 2:06 PM becoming here Upper Peninsula Michigan pendulum seems swung ago everywhere vanishingly rare haven't again house right RepliesReplyL.R ShimerSeptember 4:35 head gal work everybody else kinda egalitarian RepliesReplyLarryMay 9:34 directed Bev Wigney BTW lived NE Missouri detailed presented Thanks cogent scientifically accurate summary insect's life-cycle RepliesBug EricMay 3:47 kind compliments Delete RepliesReplyReplyAdd commentLoad Blog currently reply reader himself Working resolve Newer Older Subscribe Atom Demonized hosting 4 p.m.Saturday Jan 20 Room 1124 Academic Surge 455 Crocker Lane campus Attendees chat check 50,000 vespid eight-million free friendly Parking estimate 2000 described inhabit 500 undescribed headline-grabbing giant Vespa mandarinia formerly Asian news media dubbed murder hornet confuse identify sheet example hidden rodent burrow wall huge 100,00 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Rhopalophora meeskei
Rhopalophora meeskei is a longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, described by Casey in 1891. The species has been documented in the southwestern United States and Mexico, with confirmed records from Arizona and observations in Guatemala and Honduras. Field observations indicate adults are active during summer months and are associated with flowering plants, particularly milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) and Ceanothus species.
Cerambycidae Cerambycinae Rhopalophorini longhorn-beetle flower-visitor Arizona Chiricahua-Mountains Santa-Rita-Mountains summer-activity milkweed Ceanothus Southwest-Research-Station Montosa-Canyon
Tetraopes basalis
western milkweed longhorn beetle
Tetraopes basalis is a longhorn beetle in the family Cerambycidae, commonly known as the western milkweed longhorn beetle. It was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1852 and occurs in the United States. The species is closely associated with milkweed plants (Asclepias), on which adults feed and larvae develop. Adults are most active from April to August.
Cerambycidae Lamiinae Tetraopini milkweed Asclepias longhorn-beetle western-United-States April-August