Milkweed Beetle
The Milkweed Beetle gets its Latin name, which means “four eyes,” from its interesting structure. Belonging to the Longhorn Beetle family it is common to have the antennae situated close to the eyes. However, the Milkweed Beetle’s antenna splits the eye into two, leaving them with 4 total eyes!
They are host-specific species, eating and living on the milkweed plants.
They use the toxins from the milkweed plant as a chemical defense.
Their red color is a warning sign that they are inedible.
They lay their eggs on the stems of milkweed near the bottom or just below the surface. The larvae will bore into the stems and overwinter in the roots of milkweed plants. In the spring they pupate and adults will emerge in early summer.