BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY

STOPS ALONG THE WAY

Milkweed Bug (Correction)

by 19 Comments

The insect under question was misidentified as a Milkweed Beetle when first posted. (See Steve Gingold’s comment)

I was happy to get this shot so late in September as we’ve had several frost advisories at night.  The milkweed bug didn’t seem to mind though. I had also planned to take landscape shots that morning, so this wasn’t taken with my macro gear. The natural light provided this interesting effect.

19 thoughts on “Milkweed Bug (Correction)”

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  1. Eliza Waters
    October 3, 2022 at 8:09 pm

    He shines in the spotlight! He has a great pattern, too.

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  2. Jet Eliot
    October 3, 2022 at 2:27 pm

    A wonderful photo, Belinda. I like the natural spotlight of the sun and the geometric details of the milkweed beetle. I appreciate your effort at identification, too, as I have seen this insect recently and didn’t know exactly what it was. Cheers, my friend.

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  3. John
    October 3, 2022 at 11:37 am

    There is a similar-shaped bug in Michigan that we call a stink bug because it really does stink! They jam themselves into the tiny cracks in window frames for warmth then die. Yuck.

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  4. Anne
    October 3, 2022 at 11:21 am

    Unless one really ‘knows’ what one is photographing, it isn’t always easy to identify the insect, flower, bird or whatever. That does not detract from ‘it’ making a good subject. I was intrigued to find this definition from the Australian Museum: Bugs: incomplete metamorphosis – juveniles resemble adults except smaller and lack wings. Beetles: complete metamorphosis – larvae with hardened head, chewing mouth-parts and usually have legs. Of course the actual name of the insect might have nought to do with this – just goes to show how difficult making an ID can be!

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      • Steve Gingold
        October 3, 2022 at 2:32 pm

        I hope you don’t think I was criticizing you, Belinda. I meant nothing negative and was just trying to give you the correct ID. There are thousands upon thousands of insect species and it can be difficult to always know the correct one.And as Anne explained it is sometimes confusing through the various instars. I happen to know these because we have a ton of milkweed in the yard and they are quite numerous as are the similarly named beetles. I often turn to BugGuide and/or iNaturalist for help.

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  5. Bay Photos By Donna
    October 3, 2022 at 8:15 am

    I love the heart shape on it’s back, never noticed it before! 🙂

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  6. Steve Gingold
    October 3, 2022 at 2:47 am

    It’s a milkweed bug… https://bugguide.net/node/view/460 . It is unusual, I think, to find them so late so nice find, Belinda.

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  7. Anne
    October 3, 2022 at 2:06 am

    What a coincidence that we both focused on beetles today 🙂 Yours is a particularly attractive looking one.

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