Full Text - BHL

Dailey, P.J., R.C. Graves and J.M. Kingsolver. 1978. Survey of Coleoptera collected on the common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca, at one site in Ohio. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 32(3): 223-229.

Abstract

Coleoptera associated with the common milkweed, Asclepias syriaca L., were collected daily for 90 consecutive days. Of the 132 species listed, 18 were considered to be common (50 or more collected) while the majority of species were considered temporary visitors. The host specific milkweed beetle, Tetraopes tetrophthalmus, was the most common beetle collected.

Among other Coleoptera, most of the cantharids Chauliognathus marginatus and Podabrus modestus were collected while mating and constantly moving over the leaf surfaces.
Some beetles were associated chiefly with the flowers, especially Trogoderma glabrum, Diabrotica undecimpunctata, Conotelus obscurus, Megacerus discoidus, Fidia viticida, and Madarellus undulatus.
Species found in association with opened seed pods included Glischrochilus quadrisignatus, Otiorhynchus ovatus, Calomycterus setarius, Sitona hispidula, and S. scissifrons.
The curculionids Rhyssomatus lineaticollis and Gymnetron tetrum were most common early in the season (June); these species fed on the plant stems.
Predatory beetles such as Carabidae were seeking prey on the plants; for example, Lebia viridis adults will feed on the eggs, larvae, and pupae of flea beetles, Altica spp. (Isely 1920).

Although a majority of the species collected on A. syriaca were not abundant and probably represent species which are temporary visitors, those species that were numerous (more than 50 specimens collected) have either definite host-plant relationships (T. tetrophthalmus, T. femoratus, L. clivicollis, R. lineaticollis, and G. tetrum), are predators on other insects feeding on milkweed (L . viridis, S. iowensis, S. terminatus, C. undecimpunctata, C. transversoguttata, H. convergens, B. ursina, A. bipunctata and C. fuscilabris) or are attracted to the milkweed flowers (M . undulatus, T. glabrum, D. undecimpunctata, C. obscurus, M. discoidus and F. viticida).