I have something very strange for you today. I found this bug climbing on a milkweed plant. The very same plant where I got some excellent pictures of a bumblebee. When I first saw it I thought it was a ladybug/ladybird. The only problem with that theory was that this bug was about twice the size of one of those, and the spots were also much bigger.I thought maybe it was a mutant of some sort, but in my heart I knew that was wrong. I really had no idea that there could be another bug that looked so similar to a ladybug, until now. The question for me though was what was the identity of this odd bug?
Well, it took me a long time to learn what it was, but I finally found out the name of this mysterious bug. The bug is called a Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle. I guess the name helps explain why this beetle was climbing all over the milkweed plant. But is there more information about this beetle?
First of all, there are four species of bugs related to this one, but only one is located north of Mexico, and your looking right at it. It is known for its distinctive black and red/orange colors, and its well developed legs. If you look at the ends of the legs you can see that there are hooks that help it grasp onto the leaves of the milkweed plant.You can find these on roadsides, meadows, and wetlands in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. They mainly eat swamp milkweed, but other types of milkweed plants are also fair game for them. You'll see them from late spring through the fall. Their red or orange color is directly attributed to the milkweed they eat. Monarch butterflies and milkweed bugs are the same in this regard.
It seems as if I'm not the only one who thinks this beetle looks like a ladybug. They are frequently mistaken for a large mutated ladybug. Most people with knowledge about bugs know exactly what they are though. It seems I am now beginning to be one of those bug people, so I know what these are too.
So what do you think of this swamp milkweed leaf beetle? Would you mistake it for a ladybug? Does it look as cute as a ladybug? Or do you think it looks like a scary looking interloper? Those hooked feet might sway your answer a little bit. I wonder if a ladybug has hooked feet like that.This is one of the many interesting bugs I have found on my adventures. I have yet to feature the others. I'd like to determine their identities first, but I'll show them even if I don't. This one happens to be one of my favorites. Would you like to see more photos of this bug? Give me your thoughts.
Hi Ratty. Brilliant pictures of that beautiful bug. I think I would have thought it was some kind of ladybird too to be honest. But I have to say I don't trust ladybirds because they bite. Not many people believe me when I tell them that but it is so true!
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely more interesting than a lady bird. I can't wait to see more pictures of your insects and creatures. I do like looking at bugs and they are great to photograph too. Thanks for this one :)
To me, I'll simply call them ladybird.
ReplyDeleteTo them, they may also call us human.
lol.
Hey Ratty,
ReplyDeleteCool photo and close up... Looks to me like the old ladybug. Never would know the difference - thanks for sharing and pointing them out.
That is a veru good close up!
ReplyDeleteI am back, and glad to find you still searching out new things! Don't know if I'll ever get "caught up" on reading your posts, but I'll jump in as of now. Love the milkweed beetle!
ReplyDeleteis it possible that that bug is going some mutation process...??
ReplyDeletesound like X Men huh? :D
wandered around some time in ur blog.. nice collection of pics u got.. keep it up..
ReplyDeletecu arnd
frndly photo bloger
pixelshots
Looks like a lady bug to me!!! But I thought you might like this link here
ReplyDeletehttp://www.lostladybug.org/
They are taking data on real lady bugs since they appear to be disappearing in the US. You can log in your data when you see them in your region.
Nice beetle pics. My first thought was kinda looks like a ladybug but not. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a ladybug at first. I think you are so very talented and I really enjoy visiting your site.
ReplyDelete~Antonette
i can see the differences from your excellent photos ratty. if i was to see this little creature from a distance i would definitely think it was some sort of ladybug that's for sure. bugs are very interesting little things aren't they? keep up the good work, i definitely enjoy it. thank you and have a wonderful day my friend...xoxox
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures, Ratty!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like ladybug, and I would have mistaken it for ladybug...Thanks for the great information..
Very cool shots. I thought it was a strange looking lady bug before I started reading.
ReplyDeleteGood post
I think she is adorable and looks just like a ladybug to me. You were able to get some really great shots of her as well.
ReplyDeleteBemused - Only a few of us know that ladybirds bite. They are looking for moisture when they do that. I still like them, but I keep them from landing on me now. I'll show my bug pictures whenever I can also share a little information.
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Rainfield - To a bug we all look the same. We look like shaved apes to them.
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Mike - It looks very similar until you look closely at those blotchy black spots.
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Kirigalpoththa - My camera was working very good that day to get the closeups.
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JStantonChandler - Me too. What first interested me was that it was too big for a ladybug.
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Sharkbytes - Welcome Back! And congratulations on your successful hike. This post is a good place to start up again. I've missed your normal blog posts too.
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Fyzal - I thought it was a mutant too, but what it really is is a trickster. It's trying to fool us all.
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Pixelshots - Thanks for looking around. There will be more pictures to come.
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Julia - I'll check out the link. I think they've been replacing the ladybugs with their Japanese cousins which, I think, are quicker to bite.
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DK Miller - That was exactly the first thought that I had when I saw it.
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Antonette - Thanks. It does look very similar to a ladybug. I think that's why it's so interesting and strange.
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PJ - It is very hard to tell the difference until you get a good close look like this, and even then it's not easy to tell.
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Icy BC - I think it looks like one too. I was lucky to find out what it really was so quickly.
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Ann - If it wasn't for its large size I would have thought so too. Even then I had my doubts that it was different.
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Poetic Shutterbug - It is one of the more attractive bugs for the same reason a ladybug is. These are destructive creatures though while ladybugs are beneficial.
You know, it's interesting that you found this. The last few days I found some metallic looking lady bugs all around the yard. I had never seen these creatures before. If I see another one, I have to take a picture.
ReplyDeleteOh Ratty, that bug is just beautiful!! I simple adore the whole milkweed community as I nurture a range of these plants--wild and cultivated--just to watch all the cool stuff that lives there. I know the regular bug--kind of dusty red and black and a bit oblong. Are you also familiar with the milkweed moth?? Not so interesting to look at, but the larvae are pretty cool--in huge numbers they can strip a whole plant bare! Thanks for the new lesson today!
ReplyDeletewhat! trickster?? you know .. I love to watch a tv drama called Supernatural.. there is one type of creature called trickster.. it can take of human form of anyone it wants..
ReplyDeletesound scary.. !
Amazing photos of the milkweed bug. How many did you take to be able to pick out three good shots?
ReplyDeleteWhat great macro shots, I love seeing the detail. Thanks for the info!!
ReplyDeleteI have seen them before in other parts of the country, not here. The ones I saw were sort of an orange color, the red is beautiful. You know I like bugs of all sorts so anytime you have photos you've got my attention.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots.
Even I thought it was a ladybird! =D But ya, if you look at this one more closely, this one has a scary personality *appearance* than a ladybird which looks so gentle for a bug. =D
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot for enlightening us about this new species.
Dr. Lauren - Definitely post the pictures if you get another chance to see those strange ladybugs again. I'm curious about them now.
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WillOaks - I love milkweed plants too. I only just found out about the milkweed moth as I was doing research on these beetles. I hope to learn more about them.
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Fyzal - Supernatural is a good show. I haven't watched it for awhile though. The Trickster character sounds interesting.
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John - I must have taken about 50 shots of this bug. Surprisingly most of them came out good, so I had plenty to choose from.
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Ashley - Macros of bugs are always fun for me.
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SquirrelQueen - I've seen pictures of the more orange ones. I have plenty more bugs to show. I need to remember where I put everything though.
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Harumi - Yes exactly! This one looks like a big monster ladybird.
Thanks for the education on this interesting beetle. I have never noticed one before...or if I did I probably thought it was a ladybug.
ReplyDeleteI am slowly getting caught up on my reading after being VERY busy the past few weeks...great post, Ratty, thanks!