Milkweed Bugs

Here are 2 related and similar-looking bugs I met on the same day, the Small Milkweed Bug and the False Milkweed Bug. Along with the Large Milkweed Bug, their relationship to a milkweed diet covers the full spectrum:

  1. The False Milkweed Bug (probably) never eats milkweeds/dogbanes.
  2. The Small Milkweed Bug sometimes eats milkweed but also eats other things outside the dogbane family of plants.
  3. The Large Milkweed Bug pretty much eats milkweeds and a few milkweed relatives in the dogbane family.

I've talked before about the 2 theories on how the False Milkweed Bug developed its look and diet.

First here's the Small Milkweed Bug, which has a red X with a black heart-like shape on the top (or the bottom, if the bug is upside down like in my picture). Note it's also on a milkweed seed pod, a not uncommon place to see these bugs.

July 28, 2021 at the Sourland Mountain Preserve
Photo 148654497, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

The next picture is of a False Milkweed Bug. It has a similar red X, but the shape on the top could be construed as 2 smaller heart-shaped figures on the top of the red X. Note also that this bug is not on a milkweed plant nor any other plant in the dogbane family.

July 28, 2021 at the Sourland Mountain Preserve
Photo 148655963, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)



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