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Oncopeltus fasciatus
Milkweed bugs are hemimetabolous insects, i.e. they have incomplete metamorphosis. Therefore the nymphs (immatures) look like the adults except that they do not have full wings and their color pattern is different. Black wing pads appear early in development. Nymphs have bright red abdomens. Milkweed bugs usually molt 5 times (they have 5 nymphal instars before becoming an adult). Eggs take about 1 week to hatch and a month to become adults at room temperature (75°F). Development of milkweed bug is: emergence - (1st instar) - first molt - (2nd instar) - second molt - (3rd instar) - third molt - (4th instar) - 4th molt - (5th instar) - 5th molt (adult).
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