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Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Milkweed Bug Nymphs

These tiny blood red bugs are called Milkweed Bugs. These are the nymphs, which means they are the babies of the milkweed bug. Go ahead and click the picture for a better look. I'll still be here when you get back.

This is the second time I've seen these bugs. The first time was way back in my first year of blogging. I was just beginning to find my blogging style and I was just beginning to learn about nature. Back then I still almost never got comments here. That part took a very long time.

If you'd like to see that post you can click here. Go ahead, the post is full of information about these little critters. I'll leave the technical stuff for that one.

I was actually looking for any signs I could find of monarch butterflies, or their eggs, or maybe a caterpillar, but what I found was this group of baby bugs. You can see them again in this picture above. They are on the pod of a milkweed plant.

These pods are just about a little longer than the width of an adult man's hand. I love milkweed plants because of these pods. Eventually the outer husk will break open and release a whole bunch of fluff that will fly into the air to distribute their attached seeds all over the area.

But that's not going to happen with this particular plant because these bugs will devour the pods, and especially the seeds. They love the taste of the seeds. That blood red color of these bugs is kind of scary looking up close. Creepy little critters!

Here's another look at a milkweed plant. Those big leaves all come from the milkweed plants that are in the background of the picture. I won't show you the whole scene because I was on the wrong side of the Sun to get any good pictures with this particular bunch. I have more milkweed coming in a future post though.

I have read that milkweed pods were the inspiration behind the pod people in the movie Invasion Of The Body Snatchers. That would give a whole new perspective to these plants if that's true. I wonder where these nasty looking little bugs come in then.

I'm glad I looked in the folder of my pictures from this day. I forgot about these blood red milkweed bug nymphs. I hope you found them as interesting as I do. See ya next time!


Nature Center Magazine - 10 Tips To Get Close To A Deer!
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22 comments:

  1. SparkleAugust 24, 2011 at 2:03 AM

    Every time I see bugs or any sort, I wonder the same thing: how do they taste?

    We kitties can be pretty single-minded sometimes.

    ReplyDelete
  2. rainfield61August 24, 2011 at 3:28 AM

    Nature is very interesting.

    We find new things when re-read the same chapter.

    ReplyDelete
  3. unikornaAugust 24, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    I share a huge interest for gardening and nature in general. I have a big problem with potato bugs they are everywhere and I tried all the solutions nothing can keep them away. Lovely place you have here, a lot of information and useful tips. Not to mention lovely images :).

    ReplyDelete
  4. Out on the prairieAugust 24, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    These will stay on this plant for the rest of the season.I haven't seen anyone eating them.

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  5. UnknownAugust 24, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    Thank you for the info. I also read your earlier post on this milkweed bug.

    Umi

    ReplyDelete
  6. betchaiAugust 24, 2011 at 12:17 PM

    i looked at the bigger picture again and again, and you are right, each time i come back in this site, your post is still here :) i actually like seeing the bigger picture more since seeing the bigger and finer details in the pictures make the bugs more alive.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownAugust 24, 2011 at 1:25 PM

    Farmers and home owners are being encouraged to leave the edges of fields and yards in more natural states . So this beautiful plant and all its occupants will continue for generations.

    It was touch and go for a few years when
    every one seemed to be grooming their fields like city yards . We got very concerned for the Monarch population for a while.

    Great post.

    ReplyDelete
  8. allotments4youAugust 24, 2011 at 3:27 PM

    I have never even heard of these bugs before so was happy to find out about a new little critter....shame they will devour the plant but I guess that's the way nature culls this beautiful specimen!

    ReplyDelete
  9. jeanlivingsimpleAugust 24, 2011 at 4:13 PM

    I have had these bugs in my yard. They were interesting to watch. I also liked their UGA Bulldog colors.:)Thanks for the info and link to your other post.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Icy BCAugust 24, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    At the edge of my son's soccer field, I found these little milkweed bug last year, and was fascinated by them. I was a little worry that those bugs would jump on me.

    Fantastic photos, Ratty!

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  11. Carole BarkettAugust 24, 2011 at 7:32 PM

    The great thing about nature is there's still so much to learn like this, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Fred RickersonAugust 24, 2011 at 8:12 PM

    Love the pics dude, but can we get a larger resolution? Maybe something like 1600x1200? I'd love to use that first deer pic as a wallpaper.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Rick (Ratty)August 24, 2011 at 8:42 PM

    Thanks for all of your comments. I've said it before, but the comments are my favorite part of blogging.
    -

    @Fred Rickerson
    I've cut down the size of all my photos here to 800x600 because our storage on Blogger is unlimited if they are this small. But I will post the deer photo at 1600x1200 as a Free Wallpaper next Wednesday over on Nature Center Magazine. You can find links to that site in most of my posts.

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousAugust 24, 2011 at 10:44 PM

    I took a picture today of a milkweed in bloom but didn't see any of these bugs. I will have to watch for them!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sharkbytes (TM)August 25, 2011 at 9:04 AM

    I've only seen a few of these over here this year. But more might show up yet.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wild_BillAugust 25, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    Very cool Ratty. Did you know that when milkweed bugs are adult they have pupated several times. The final stage, the adult stage, reveals large black wings.

    I really liked reading the early blog on milkweed bugs that you gave us the feed for. It's interesting to note the similarities and differences in your writing style.

    I'm always interested in what you have to say. It is a fresh look at the world that many can relate to.

    ReplyDelete
  17. SteveAugust 25, 2011 at 3:16 PM

    COOL Ratty! I like bugs, even if my kids don't! I will pick up almost any bug and move it out of harms way if I see it soon enough.

    Yes, I am back!

    ReplyDelete
  18. LinAugust 26, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    Those darn milkweed bugs will kill that milkweed plant--they are so destructive. They've killed off my collection of milkweed so I don't get many monarchs laying eggs here anymore. :(

    ReplyDelete
  19. DIGITAL WORLD PAGES ARCHIVEAugust 27, 2011 at 1:56 PM

    Very interesting post!

    ReplyDelete
  20. RNSANEAugust 30, 2011 at 2:48 AM

    Such interesting information, Ratty. I went back and read your previous article about these bugs. So the poisonous milkweed pod makes the bugs poisonous after they eat it! Wow.

    ReplyDelete
  21. AnonymousMay 17, 2012 at 11:57 AM

    I think this is what I just found in my backward. When I first discovered them they were in a pile with others running to and fro the pile. Later in the day they were not piled up anymore but running around. I didn't know if they would eat vegetable plants in the garden. But sounds like they perfer milkweed. Glad I found what I was looking for. Thank you for posting your information.

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  22. LesaMay 25, 2013 at 10:51 AM

    I just saw a ton of them all over my pods .. I have lots of adults too .. I have been pulling my monarch eggs and raising indoor .. To many predictors killing them this year ..

    ReplyDelete