large milkweed bug - Species Profile
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List
not listed
NatureServe
not listed
Minnesota
not listed
Description
The pronotum is black with orange lateral margins.
The forewings (hehelytra) are mostly black. Each has one forward-pointing and one backward-pointing orange triangle separated by a broad black band.
The antennae have 4 segments.
The part of the leg corresponding to the foot (tarsus) has 3 segments and a pad at the base of each claw.
Size
Total length: ⅜″ to 11 ⁄16″
Similar Species
Habitat
Meadows and fields
Ecology
Season
Late summer to fall. One or more generation per year.
Behavior
Life Cycle
Adults overwinter
Nymph Food
Seeds of milkweeds (Asclepias spp.)
Adult Food
Milkweed seeds
Distribution
Sources
Oncopeltus fasciatus (Dallas, 1852) in Bánki, O., Roskov, Y., Döring, M., Ower, G., Hernández Robles, D. R., Plata Corredor, C. A., Stjernegaard Jeppesen, T., Örn, A., Pape, T., Hobern, D., Garnett, S., Little, H., DeWalt, R. E., Miller, J., Orrell, T., Aalbu, R., Abbott, J., Abreu, C., Acero P, A., et al. (2026). Catalogue of Life (2026-07-17 XR). Catalogue of Life Foundation, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.48580/dgykv
Occurrence
Common
Taxonomy
Order
Hemiptera (True Bugs, Hoppers, Aphids, and Allies)
Suborder
Heteroptera (True Bugs)
Infraorder
Pentatomomorpha
Superfamily
Lygaeoidea (Seed Bugs and Allies)
Family
Lygaeidae (Seed Bugs)
Subfamily
Lygaeinae
Genus
Oncopeltus
Subgenus
Erythrischius
Subordinate Taxa
Synonyms
Common Names
large milkweed bug
milkweed bug
