Large milkweed seed bugs - Oncopeltus fasciatus - BugGuide.Net

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Photo#34966

Copyright © 2005 Maria Fremlin

Large milkweed seed bugs - Oncopeltus fasciatus

By lake Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
October 1, 2005
Size: imago ~ 15 mm

Safety in numbers it is always what they say about these groups. However it seems to be a bit more than that. I've just read in What Good are bugs? that a group of bugs feeding together pool their saliva. The saliva has enzymes which liquify the food thus making it easier to drink.

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Large milkweed seed bug - Oncopeltus fasciatus

Contributed by Maria Fremlin on 19 October, 2005 - 9:49am

Interesting!

Sounds like a book we should have on our reading lists. When you finish it, maybe you could add it to the site and review it?

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 19 October, 2005 - 3:36pm

WHAT GOOD ARE BUGS?

Hannah, I've done it, see here.
I've read this book, chapter by chapter, not in order but as the fancy took me. It is packed with fascinating facts about insects "in the finely woven tapestry of life".
However it is just somewhat regrettable that Gilbert Waldbauer wrote that the prickly pear was introduced in Australia as a garden plant. It was not. Its introduction was to establish a cochineal dye industry, that went dreadfully wrong; see here.

… Maria Fremlin, 4 December, 2005 - 3:27pm

Thanks, Maria!

I've added the book to my wishlist in time for Christmas!
BTW I enjoy your comments and links and have learned a lot from them.

… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 4 December, 2005 - 4:25pm

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