Large Milkweed Bug
Hemiptera: Lygaeidae
CONSIDERED HARMLESS
The adult has a blunt head and an elongated, oval shaped orange/red body about 3/8 to 5/8 inch long. The wings are banded with orange/red and black and cover the abdomen. The nymph is orange with black legs and antennae and closely resembles the adult but has no wings. When first hatched it is less than 1/4 inch long but grows to adult size through several instars. Black wing pads appear in the last two instars. The diet of milkweed seeds makes the insect toxic to its predators. The bright red and black colors advertise this toxicity. An insect easily confused with the milkweed bug is a species of assassin bug (Reduviidae). This assassin bug has the same red and black coloration but has a long, thin neck and does not occur in groups.
Life Cycle
Incomplete metamorphosis: egg, five larval stages, adult. Eggs are laid throughout the growing season. Nymphs develop through stages to the winged adult.
Diet
The nymph and adult suck juices from milkweed seeds after first injecting digestive enzymes into the pods. The adults also drink nectar from flowers of other plants.
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