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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Series Cucujiformia » Longhorn and Leaf Beetles (Chrysomeloidea) » Longhorn Beetles (Cerambycidae) » Flat-faced Longhorn Beetles (Lamiinae) » Tetraopini » Milkweed Longhorn Beetles (Tetraopes) » Red Milkweed Beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus)

Species Tetraopes tetrophthalmus - Red Milkweed Beetle

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Life Cycle · Print References · Works Cited
Red and black beetle - Tetraopes tetrophthalmus Black-spotted red beetle - Tetraopes tetrophthalmus Tetraopes tetrophthalmus - Red Milkweed Beetle - Tetraopes tetrophthalmus Milkweed Longhorn - Tetraopes tetrophthalmus Unknown beetle/bug - Tetraopes tetrophthalmus red beetle found on the milk weed - Tetraopes tetrophthalmus beetle - Tetraopes tetrophthalmus - male - female Milkweed longhorn beetle: Tetraopes tetrophthalmus - Tetraopes tetrophthalmus
Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga
No Taxon (Series Cucujiformia)
Superfamily Chrysomeloidea (Longhorn and Leaf Beetles)
Family Cerambycidae (Longhorn Beetles)
Subfamily Lamiinae (Flat-faced Longhorn Beetles)
Tribe Tetraopini
Genus Tetraopes (Milkweed Longhorn Beetles)
Species tetrophthalmus (Red Milkweed Beetle)
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
tetraophthalmus (spelling)
Explanation of Names
Tetraopes tetrophthalmus (Forster 1771)
tetrophthalmus 'four-eyed' (each compound eye is completely divided)
Size
8‒15 mm(1)
Identification
combination of broad, disk-shaped pronotal callus; strong elytral spots, especially the elongate subhumeral spot; and unringed antennae are diagnostic(1)
Range
e.NA (QC‒MB‒ND‒CO to GA‒TX)(2)(3)
Habitat
common where primary host plant (A. syriaca) is present, rare in TX(4)
Food
Hosts: milkweed (Asclepias spp.), esp. (or exclusively) A. syriaca; an isolated population in a disturbed site in Illinois reported on A. verticillata(5)
But also A. purpurascens and A. viridiflora(6)), and on Apocynum(1)
Life Cycle
Eggs laid on stems near ground or just below surface; larvae bore into stems, overwinter in roots, and pupate in spring; adults emerge in early summer(7)
Print References
Rasmann S., Agrawal A.A. (2011) Evolution of specialization: a phylogenetic study of host range in the red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus). Am. Nat. 177: 728‒737 (Full text)
Works Cited
1.Field Guide to Northeastern Longhorned Beetles (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)
Douglas Yanega. 1996. Illinois Natural History Survey.
2.Beetles of Eastern North America
Arthur V. Evans. 2014. Princeton University Press.
3.Checklist of beetles (Coleoptera) of Canada and Alaska. Second edition
Bousquet Y., Bouchard P., Davies A.E., Sikes D.S. 2013. ZooKeys 360: 1–402.
4.Texas A&M University Insect Collection (TAMUIC)
5.The timing of insect/plant diversification: might Tetraopes (Col.: Cerambycidae) and Asclepias (Asclepiadaceae) have co-evolved?
Farrell B.D., Mitter C. 1998. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 63: 553–577.
6.Insect herbivores of 12 milkweed (Asclepias) species.
Betz, R.F., W.R. Rommel & J.J. Dichtl. 2000. Pp. 7-19. In: C. Warwick (ed.). Proceedings of the 15th North American Prairie Conference, Natural Areas Association, Bend, OR.
7.National Audubon Society Field Guide to Insects and Spiders
Lorus and Margery Milne. 1980. Knopf.
Contributed by Cotinis on 24 March, 2004 - 4:25am
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Robin McLeod, Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 25 June, 2025 - 7:59pm

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