one bright red milkweed beetle leaf tetraopes tetrophthalmus

navigate by keyword : bright red milkweed beetles matingon leaf etraopes tetrophthalmus tetraopes beetle family cerambycidae herbivore name generally host specific plants genus asclepias startled shrill noise interacting 39aph39purring39aph39 black coloring aposematic advertising beetles39aph39 inedibility milkweedeating species insect use toxins contained plant chemical defense lay eggclutches midsummer roots one spotted chewed

One Bright Red Milkweed Beetle on a Milkweed Leaf - Tetraopes tetrophthalmus Royalty Free Stock Photo

Macro portrait of red milkweed beetle & x28;Tetraopes tetrophthalmus& x29; exploring the leaves of Asclepias plant Royalty Free Stock Photo

Macro portrait of red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus) exploring the leaves of Asclepias plant Royalty Free Stock Photo

One Bright Red Milkweed Beetle on a Milkweed Leaf - Tetraopes tetrophthalmus

The red milkweed beetle (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus) is a beetle in the family Cerambycidae. The milkweed beetle, a herbivore, is given this name because they are generally host specific to milkweed plants (genus Asclepias). When startled, the beetles make a shrill noise. When interacting with another beetle, they make a 'purring' noise. The red and black coloring are aposematic, advertising the beetles' inedibility. There are many milkweed-eating species of insect that use the toxins contained in the plant as a chemical defense. Red milkweed beetles lay egg-clutches in mid-summer near the roots of the milkweed.