Red Milkweed Beetle

Tetraopes tetraopthalmus

Milkweed beetles feed on milkweed plants. The larvae feed on the roots and stems, the adults on the leaves. The scientific name Tetraopes means four eyes; if you look closely at a milkweed beetle you will see that it has one pair of eyes above the antennae and another pair below.

Look For : Four black spots on upper thorax and a variety of different patterns of black dots and streaks on red fore wings. Long, tubular body.

Length : 3/8-1/2".

Habitat : Meadows and fields with milkweed.

Range : Milkweed beetles are found wherever there is milkweed. (Species pictured is found in eastern North America.)