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Project Noah Nature School
Oncopeltus fasciatus
Male. The large milkweed bug adult is a 9–18 mm long insect. Mature adults are orange with black rhomboidal spots at both end of a body and a black band in the middle. Freshly molted individuals are pale yellow with gray spots that change into black with time. Bright orange instars resemble adults, with orange-black pattern different than in grown individuals and without wings. However, wingpads are visible and become more pronounced with each molt. Adult females have several black spots on rear part of their abdomen, while males have only one.
Edge of a large pond near a deciduous forest. Cleveland Metroparks System, North Chagrin Reservation, Mayfield, Ohio Cuyahoga County USA. The habitat of the large milkweed bug spreads east of the Rocky Mountains. It is found as far north as Ontario, Canada, but is more abundant in south-eastern United States. Groups of insects in all stages of development are commonly found between May and October on common milkweed plants. Milkweed Bugs that have been bred can take over the current population of Native Milkweed's if let into the wild.
Spotted on Aug 17, 2013
Submitted on Aug 20, 2013
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