Insects Feeding
on Milkweeds
(Asclepias spp.)
Insect & Family Names
(Scientific & Common)

Tetraopes basalis *
(Milkweed Longhorn)
Cerambycidae (Long-horned Beetles)

Tetraopes discoideus *
(Gray Milkweed Beetle)
Cerambycidae (Long-horned Beetles)

Tetraopes femoratus *
(Red-femured Milkweed Borer)
Cerambycidae (Long-horned Beetles)

Tetraopes melanurus *
(Blackened Milkweed Beetle)
Cerambycidae (Long-horned Beetles)

Tetraopes pilosus *
(Pale Milkweed Beetle)
Cerambycidae (Long-horned Beetles)

Tetraopes quinquemaculatus *
(Five-spotted Milkweed Beetle)
Cerambycidae (Long-horned Beetles)

Tetraopes tetrophthalmus *
(Red Milkweed Beetle)
Cerambycidae (Long-horned Beetles)

Tetraopes texanus *
(Texas Milkweed Beetle)
Cerambycidae (Long-horned Beetles)

Chrysochus auratus **
(Dogbane Beetle)
Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Labidomera clavicollis §§
(Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle)
Chrsyomelidae (Leaf Beetles)

Rhyssomatus lineaticollis *
(Milkweed Stem Weevil)
Curculionidae (Weevils)

Liriomyza asclepiadis ***
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)

Liriomyza pusilla ***
(no common name)
Agromyzidae (Leaf-miner Flies)

Neolasioptera asclepiae §§§
(Milkweed Stem Midge)
Cecidomyiidae (Gall Flies)

Lygaeus kalmii §
(Small Milkweed Bug)
Lygaeidae (Seed Bugs)

Oncopeltus fasciatus §
(Large Milkweed Bug)
Lygaeidae (Seed Bugs)

Aphis asclepiadis
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Aphis nerii
(Oleander Aphid)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Myzocallis asclepiadis
(no common name)
Aphididae (Aphids)

Pseudococcus sorghiellus
(Trochanter Mealybug)
Pseudococcidae (Mealybugs)

Cycnia inopinatus ¥¥
(Unexpected Cycnia)
Arctiidae (Tiger Moths)

Cycnia tenera
(Delicate Cycnia)
Arctiidae (Tiger Moths)

Euchaetes egle ¥¥¥
(Milkweed Tussock Moth)
Arctiidae (Tiger Moths)

Danaus plexippus
(Monarch)
Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)

Melanoplus bivittatus
(Two-striped Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Melanoplus confusus ¶¶
(Little Pasture Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Melanoplus femurrubrum ¶ ¶¶ ¶¶¶
(Red-legged Grasshopper)
Acrididae (Grasshoppers)

Oecanthus quadripunctatus ¶ ¶¶ ¶¶¶ ¥
(Four-spotted Tree Cricket)
Oecanthidae (Tree Crickets)

Atlanticus testaceus
(Protean Shieldback)
Tettigoniidae (Katydids)

Conocephalus strictus ¶¶
(Straight-lanced Meadow Katydid)
Tettigoniidae (Katydids)

Scudderia curvicauda ¶¶ ¥
(Curve-tailed Bush Katydid)
Tettigoniidae (Katydids)

Scudderia furcata ¶ ¶¶
(Fork-tailed Bush Katydid)
Tettigoniidae (Katydids)


* larvae bore into stems and/or roots
** adults feed on foliage, *** larvae mine leaves
§ feeds on flowers and seedpods
§§ feeds on foliage and flowers
§§§ forms fusiform galls on stems
¶ feeds on fresh and/or dry flowers
¶¶ feeds on fresh and/or dry leaves
¶¶¶ feeds on seedpods, ¥ feeds on flower buds
¥¥ Asclepias tuberosa is the preferred host plant
¥¥¥ Asclepias syriaca is the preferred host plant

Sources: Arnett & Jacques (1981),
Yanega (1996), Spencer & Steyskal (1986),
Vestal (1913), Hottes & Frison (1931),
Cranshaw (2004), Covell (1984/2005),
Clark et al. (2004), Needham et al. (1928),
Gangwere (1961)

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