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Oncopeltus fasciatus
These orange bugs have black wing pads on their backs. They are not babies, but not adults. They've molted once (I think) and are in the "instar" stage. They do not hide from the butterflies or bees in the are around them. They are all huddled in the shade of one of the leaves of the Butterfly Weed Plant. I spotted them yesterday and expected to find a few today, but with some holes in the leaves, or some evidence they've been feeding on their host plant. I saw none.
They live on milkweed plants, which Butterfly Weed is related.
"O. fasciatus is commonly used in science due to ease of rearing and ease of dissection." - Wikipedia
Spotted on Aug 11, 2011
Submitted on Aug 11, 2011
1 Comment
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/719... are the adults of these same Milkweed Bugs.