The small milkweed bug is commonly confused with other black and red or orange insects, including Oncopeltus fasciatus, Lygaeus turcicus, and Lygaeus reclivatus.

Insect Data

Names and Taxonomy

  • Common Names: small milkweed bug or common milkweed bug
  • Synonyms:
  • Order: Hemiptera (True Bugs)
  • Family: Lygaeidae (Seed Bugs)
  • Genus Information: 60 species, 2 subspecies

Distribution

  • Distribution: western US
  • Seen: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
  • Habitat:
  • Food: flower nectar and milkweed seeds

Photographs

Small Milkweed Bug (Ipomopsis tenuituba)

Cave Lake, NV

Small Milkweed Bug (Ipomopsis tenuituba)

On Engelmann's Milkweed (Asclepias engelmanniana) in Lakewood, Colorado

Small Milkweed Bug (Ipomopsis tenuituba)

On Engelmann's Milkweed (Asclepias engelmanniana) in Lakewood, Colorado