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Milkweed bug
Lygaeid bug (Heteroptera)
29.8431, 79.6033
Field Notes
Description:
lygaeid bug (family Lygaeidae), any of a group of insects in the true bug order, Heteroptera, that includes many important crop pests. There are between 3,000 and 5,000 species of lygaeid bugs, which vary from brown to brightly patterned with red, white, or black spots and bands. The large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) is distinguished by its broad red and black bands. They range from 3 to 15 mm (0.1 to 0.6 inch) in length, although they are usually less than 10 mm.
Habitat:
Lygaeid bugs are primarily seed feeders, but adults may feed on flowers and foliage of various crops and ornamental plants. This bug, like other Nysius species, builds up unusually high populations on weeds. When overcrowding, lack of food, or drying up or removal of these weed hosts occurs, swarms of this insect may go into nearby crops and orchards where they may cause some damage (Zimmerman, 1948).
This species reproduces at lower elevations, then migrates to higher elevations.
Notes:
I spotted this one on my to the hill station and found many there after throughout my trip.
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