Species Oncopeltus sexmaculatus - Six-spotted Milkweed Bug

Classification · Numbers · Size · Identification · Range · Food · See Also · Works Cited

Six-spotted Milkweed Bug - Oncopeltus sexmaculatus

Oncopeltus sexmaculatus Stål - Oncopeltus sexmaculatus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies)

Suborder Heteroptera (True Bugs)

Family Lygaeidae (Seed Bugs)

Subfamily Lygaeinae

Genus Oncopeltus

Species sexmaculatus (Six-spotted Milkweed Bug)

Numbers

7 spp. n. of Mex. (1)

Size

15-18 mm

Identification

Similar to Large Milkweed Bug, but with a red head, and a slightly different spot pattern.

Range

Occurs in south Texas, south to Central America (1)

Food

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.)

See Also

Oncopeltus cayensis of Florida

But note lack of white membranal spot

Works Cited

1.	Catalog of the Heteroptera, or True Bugs of Canada and the Continental United States By Thomas J. Henry, Richard C. Froeschner

Contributed by tom murray on 21 October, 2005 - 9:38pm
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn
Last updated 29 June, 2009 - 8:23pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.

Printer Friendly Version