Milkweed Bug

The milkweed bug owes its name to the fact that it is found only on the milkweed plant. Why is it on the milkweed plant? Simply because, that is its food. It does not feed on anything else except the seeds of this plant. In truth, to say 'feed' would be wrong because it actually 'sucks' on the seeds. More information on that later; but for now let's find out a little more about this bug.

Anatomy of the Bug
The milkweed bug has an anatomy like most other insects - in the way that it has six legs (very delicate), a head, a thorax, an abdomen and two antennae. So also fore-wings (hard in the front, membranous at the back), which cover the abdomen. What makes any insect interesting to study is that it has a specialized mechanism that it uses to feed itself. The bug does not chew or bite its food, but rather pierces it and then sucks on it. They have long tube-like, segmented beaks for sucking. The beak is divided into two parallel tubes for the function of feeding. With one tube, this bug will send its saliva into the milkweed seed to help with the digestion and the other tube it'll use to suck the food that has been mixed with the saliva. When the beak is not being used, it is folded and tucked under the abdomen, between the two feet.

Behavior of the Bug
Milkweed bugs are usually found in clusters and groups. They have very few predators because they taste real nasty. They deliberately suck on and then concentrate the bad tasting compounds that are found in the milkweed seeds. They then make use of their bright colors to advertise their bad taste and ward off predators.

The young of the milkweed bugs are known as nymphs. They resemble the adults in all respects, barring the incomplete structure of their wings. In order for the nymphs to grow into adults, they need to go through the molting process; which they do periodically.

Habitat of the Bug
Milkweed bugs are usually found on the underside of the milkweed plants. They thrive in clusters and groups. Many times, an entire field may be filled with them. But since they don't eat crop, they are not dangerous to them. Most other times, these bugs are found along roadways where milkweed plants grow in abundance.

They are found in the months from May to October and in places east of the Rocky mountains, in Ontario, Canada, and also in the South Eastern regions of the United States.

Life Cycle of the Bug
The life cycle of this bug is like that of several other insects. In the way that it does not undergo complete metamorphosis (which earns them the title hemimetabolous insects).

The process of the life cycle begins when the male and female bugs mate. During this process, they are conjoined for over 10 hours. The female will lay the eggs on the underside of leaves, about 20 eggs everyday. The eggs are bright orange in color and might also be placed in safe areas like the hard shell of the milkweed seed for added protection.

It will take about a week for the eggs to hatch and the nymphs to come out.

When the young nymph is born, it resembles an adult by way of having the same features except for its wings, which are underdeveloped and the physical structure being smaller than an adults. To reach the stage of being an adult, the milkweed bug has to go through five molting processes. During this, they shed their outer cover (exoskeleton/cuticle) for the purpose of growing. Unless they molt away the exterior hard cover, they cannot grow. Each time they molt their cover, a new softer, more flexible cover takes the place of the old one. But as time passes, it hardens and therefore needs to be shed. After shedding their cover 5 times, the nymphs will become adults. These developmental stages can be divided into the egg stage (emergence from the egg), the second stage (nymph stage) has the corresponding 4 molting processes. And the last stage (adult) stage. After the bugs become adults they will mate within a week.

During the winter, the bugs will hibernate to protect themselves from the cold, but many will not survive.

The milkweed bug is a very interesting bug to study. It harms nothing or no one, is not harmful nor poisonous; and to top it off, makes for a very pleasing sight. So the next time you see a milkweed bug, please don't squash it, just observe it from afar.