Sandhills-endemic

Guides

• Tetraopes

  Milkweed Longhorn Beetles

  Tetraopes is a genus of specialized longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae) distributed from Guatemala to Canada. The genus is defined by extreme host specificity to milkweeds (Asclepias and related genera in Apocynaceae), with larvae feeding on roots and adults feeding on leaves and flowers. All species exhibit aposematic red-and-black coloration advertising their sequestration of cardiac glycosides from host plants. The eyes are completely divided by antennal insertions, giving rise to both the scientific name ("four eyes") and common name "four-eyed milkweed beetle" for some species. The genus represents a classic example of coevolutionary radiation with its host plants.

  CerambycidaeLamiinaeTetraopinimilkweed-beetlefour-eyed-beetleaposematic-colorationcardiac-glycoside-sequestrationlatex-vein-cuttingcoevolutionhost-specializationroot-feeding-larvaeMüllerian-mimicryprairie-specialistsandhills-endemic