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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies (Hemiptera) » True Bugs (Heteroptera) » Pentatomomorpha » Lygaeoidea » Seed Bugs (Lygaeidae) » Lygaeinae » Oncopeltus » subgenus Erythrischius (Oncopeltus subgenus Erythrischius) » Large Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus)
Photo#1582427
Oncopeltus fasciatus cannibalism: adult - adult - Oncopeltus fasciatus
Copyright © 2018 dvoribird

Oncopeltus fasciatus cannibalism: adult - adult - Oncopeltus fasciatus
Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA
August 16, 2018
I've observed several instances of nymphs eating nymphs, but only one occurrence of an adult eating an adult.
Other dietary observations: In my backyard, there's plenty milkweed for their feeding, but I observe this species nectaring on other flowers or opting for flowers gone to seed. In addition, I see them eating Syrphidae pupae (mostly Dioprosopa clavata) as well as dead insects and 1st- to 2nd-instar Danaus sp. caterpillars.
In this instance captured above, she had her stylets in the bug, worked him while moving him around for a few minutes, and then dropped the bug.

see my article on handraising milkweed bugs here: https://bugguide.net/node/view/1716733

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Oncopeltus fasciatus cannibalism: adult - adult - Oncopeltus fasciatus Oncopeltus fasciatus cannibalism: adult - adult - Oncopeltus fasciatus Oncopeltus fasciatus cannibalism: adult - adult - Oncopeltus fasciatus Oncopeltus fasciatus cannibalism: adult - adult - Oncopeltus fasciatus
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Contributed by dvoribird on 27 August, 2018 - 5:08pm
Last updated 24 August, 2019 - 7:47pm

predation or scavenging ?
Did it kill the other one, or simply scavenged on it ?
… Fabien Piednoir, 17 November, 2020 - 3:37pm login or register to post comments

 
something in between
I have seen Oncopeltus fasciatus eat conspecifics who are alive as well as those who are dead. There were occasions where I was able to rescue the one being eaten (almost always nymphs) and separate them. I do not believe that these guys are active predators, but rather that they are taking advantage of a conspecific who might be weakened or simply in a state of torpor.
Êtes-vous un entomologiste?
… dvoribird, 17 November, 2020 - 6:47pm login or register to post comments

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