Milkweed Beetles
What are they?
This small group of attractive insects forms a tribe within the longhorn beetle family. As with other insects that feed on milkweed, they advertize their poisonous qualities by sporting brilliant red colors with black markings.
Identification
Though there is much variation in the markings of each species, there are distinct trends in coloration that allow them to be identified fairly easily. It is also worth taking a note of the species of milkweed that the beetle is feeding on, as this can help with identification.
Blackened Milkweed Beetle Tetraopes melanurus
One of several species of small longhorn beetle that specializes in feeding on the sap of milkweed plants, this species seeming to prefer Butterfly Milkweed Similar to the Red Milkweed Beetle but with larger black markings on the wing cases.
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Red Milkweed Beetle Tetraopes tetrophthalmus
One of several species of small longhorn beetle that specializes in feeding on the sap of milkweed plants, this species prefering Common Milkweed. Similar to the Blackened Milkweed Beetle but with smaller black markings on the wing cases.
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