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Milkweed Borer vs. Milkweed Beetle?

Hi everybody, I'm new here. :)

I have several photos of a red beetle (example here: http://www.toomanythoughts.net/milkweedborer.html ) that I *think* is a Milkweed Borer, but in consulting several books and websites, I can't figure out how you tell the difference between a Milkweed Borer (Tetraopes femoratus), and a Long-Horned Milkweed Beetle (Tetraopes tetraophthalmus). I want to label my photographs accurately, and I'm finding this one a real challenge. Can anybody help me out here?

Thanks!
-Sonya
Contributed by Sonya L Volkhardt on 4 December, 2008 - 9:45am

T. melanurus...
...is another possibility - can't say for sure without a dorsal view.
… Ted C. MacRae, 17 December, 2008 - 11:59pm

 
Okay, looked that one up and
Okay, looked that one up and found a picture - and I don't think so, there's no large patch of black on its back.

Here's an almost-dorsal view of the same insect -
… Sonya L Volkhardt, 18 December, 2008 - 9:16am

 
Yep...
...Tetraopes tetrophthalmus.
… Ted C. MacRae, 18 December, 2008 - 3:38pm

Although I am not an expert...
your image at http://www.toomanythoughts.net/milkweedborer.html appears to have black femora (rather than red) and solid black antennae (rather the black with white bands) which points me to Red Milkweed Beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus) rather than Red-femured Milkweed Borer (Tetraopes femoratus).

I also noticed that your image at http://www.toomanythoughts.net/bugonseedpod.html appears to be a nymph stage of Green Stink Bug (Acrosternum hilare).

Like this;


Welcome to BugGuide!
… Ron M., 4 December, 2008 - 11:05am

 
Thank you! I'll re-label tha
Thank you! I'll re-label that. :)
… Sonya L Volkhardt, 4 December, 2008 - 11:20am

 
i appreciate your vote of confidence :)
and I feel sure about my assessment but, again, I am not an expert on these things. I would suggest waiting a day or so for one of our experts to back me up or correct me if I missed something here.
… Ron M., 4 December, 2008 - 11:26am

 
Well, you're one up on me for
Well, you're one up on me for knowing how to tell the two apart in the first place. I have several pictures of that same insect, and there is definitely no red on the legs, nor any striping of the antennae, so I think you're right.
… Sonya L Volkhardt, 4 December, 2008 - 11:35am

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