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Photo#1604675
O. fasciatus cannibalism: 4th-instar eating 4th-instar nymph - Oncopeltus fasciatus

O. fasciatus cannibalism: 4th-instar eating 4th-instar nymph - Oncopeltus fasciatus
Austin, Travis County, Texas, USA
October 14, 2018
Observation: I have observed several instances of cannibalism in this species, one case of adult-on-adult, and the others, nymphs on nymphs.
They attack a living bug and will even carry the nymph victim away if disturbed. These guys were outside in the garden on milkweed where buds and blossoms were available to them, but no seedpods. I believe they need protein for optimal development.

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

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O. fasciatus cannibalism: 4th-instar eating 4th-instar nymph - Oncopeltus fasciatus O. fasciatus cannibalism: 4th-instar eating 4th-instar nymph - Oncopeltus fasciatus O. fasciatus cannibalism: 4th-instar eating 4th-instar nymph - Oncopeltus fasciatus O. fasciatus cannibalism: 4th-instar eating 4th-instar nymph - Oncopeltus fasciatus