#l. kalmii | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jonnysinsectcatalogue · 2 years

Photo

False Milkweed Bug - Lygaeus turcicus

This insect came from my father during one of his visits to the trails of Kleinburg. Wish I could’ve been there to see it personally, but I’m glad to have another new specie gracing the blog, even though this one seems very familiar. Like its relatives, this insect has many look-a-likes also featuring a red and black color scheme with a similar body shape and head. From earlier posts, I hope you are familiar with the look-a-likes as for this post I’ll only be talking about this insect’s fellow Seed Bugs since they are most relevant. Look at today’s specimen, it closely resembles the Small Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus kalmii - both insects are in the same genus) which can make identification at a glance misleading. By looking closely between examples of the two Seed Bugs, you’ll discover the differences that can help distinguish between them. Where ranges overlap, you’ll have a False Milkweed Bug if you can see a red “Y-shaped” marking on its head (L. kalmii lacks this), a double-triangle pattern running down its back (L. kalmii patterning is more heart-shaped) and no white spots on the darkest parts of the wings. Our specimen today has all these features, and with its red coloration and pattern, it definitely wouldn’t be confused with the Large Milkweed Bug, but what else can we use to identify this insect?

The features listed above should serve you well as the primary means to identify this Bug, but (believe it or not) we can actually use the flower its crawling on to confirm its identity too. The insect’s name says it all, believe or not! While they’re all Seed Bugs, the Small and Large Milkweed Bugs are commonly associated with milkweed as a primary source of food and many individuals can be found on or around milkweed plants. The nectar can provide nourishment and the seeds within the milkweed’s pods can be targeted later in the year, especially for the young nymphs. The False Milkweed Bug goes after a different plant for satisfy its need for seed...the plant that it currently stands on! While mistaken for its relatives by its appearance, you’ll mainly find the False Milkweed Bug lurking around or near the False Sunflower. The insect searches for seeds within this yellow flower to pierce with its rostrum and feed on, but never milkweed. It may also find a mate while it flies from flower to flower. It’s very amusing to me that a “false bug” feeds on a “false flower”, and it sounds too brilliant to be a coincidence. I have yet to truly undertake in-depth research of this insect, but the main question I have at the moment concerns whether or not the Bug is unpalatable since it doesn’t feed on milkweed? Does that mean this insect is a mimic of its milkweed eating relatives? I look forward to finding out!

Picture was taken on July 11, 2022 near Kleinburg village on a Google Pixel 4.

#jonny’s insect catalogue #ontario insect #seed bug #false milkweed bug #true bug #hemiptera #heteroptera #kleinburg #july2022 #2022 #entomology #nature #invertebrates

3 notes · View notes