Harvey County Parks

5 days ago

CRITTER OF THE WEEK!
Red Milkweed Beetle
Tetraopes tetrophthalmus
The Red milkweed beetle is a brightly colored insect that can be seen wherever its host plant, common milkweed is found. Their range matches the native distribution of Common milkweed. This means that they are mostly found in the Northeastern quadrant of North America. They are easily identified by their bright red carapace, black oval markings, and long antennae. They are sometimes called milkweed borers and Four-eyed beetles. Both their species and genus name means four eyed. Their antenna divides each compound eye, giving them a lower and upper eye. Many insects that feed on the milkweed plant are brightly colored. They are all using a defense mechanism called aposematism. The black and red, much like the black and orange of the monarch butterflies warns predators of their toxicity and bitter taste. Insects that eat the milkweed plant sequester cardiac glycosides making them taste very bad, and making predators that eat them sick. You may find Red milkweed beetles and other insects like monarch caterpillars on the same plant. That’s not a problem. These beetles are herbivores and will not harm monarch eggs or larvae. Early in the summer, after mating, females lay their eggs low on a stem of milkweed or very close by. These eggs hatch and the larvae migrate to the roots of the milkweed plant. If the eggs are laid on the stem the larvae can travel under the plants skin. When eggs aren’t laid on the host plant, larvae must tunnel through the soil. They eat the roots of the plant, and when its time, they overwinter there. When spring arrives, they may feed a bit more on the roots. They then create an earthen chamber to pupate in. At the beginning of the summer, they emerge as adults. Adult Red milkweed beetles eat leaves, buds and flowers of the milkweed plant. The Red milkweed beetle pictured here was found at Harvey County East Park on June 19, 2020.CRITTER OF THE WEEK!
Red Milkweed Beetle
Tetraopes tetrophthalmus
The Red milkweed beetle is a brightly colored insect that can be seen wherever its host plant, common milkweed is found. Their range matches the native distribution of Common milkweed. This means that they are mostly found in the Northeastern quadrant of North America. They are easily identified by their bright red carapace, black oval markings, and long antennae. They are sometimes called milkweed borers and Four-eyed beetles. Both their species and genus name means four eyed. Their antenna divides each compound eye, giving them a lower and upper eye. Many insects that feed on the milkweed plant are brightly colored. They are all using a defense mechanism called aposematism. The black and red, much like the black and orange of the monarch butterflies warns predators of their toxicity and bitter taste. Insects that eat the milkweed plant sequester cardiac glycosides making them taste very bad, and making predators that eat them sick. You may find Red milkweed beetles and other insects like monarch caterpillars on the same plant. That’s not a problem. These beetles are herbivores and will not harm monarch eggs or larvae. Early in the summer, after mating, females lay their eggs low on a stem of milkweed or very close by. These eggs hatch and the larvae migrate to the roots of the milkweed plant. If the eggs are laid on the stem the larvae can travel under the plants skin. When eggs aren’t laid on the host plant, larvae must tunnel through the soil. They eat the roots of the plant, and when its time, they overwinter there. When spring arrives, they may feed a bit more on the roots. They then create an earthen chamber to pupate in. At the beginning of the summer, they emerge as adults. Adult Red milkweed beetles eat leaves, buds and flowers of the milkweed plant. The Red milkweed beetle pictured here was found at Harvey County East Park on June 19, 2020. ... See moreSee less