Large Milkweed Bugs - Genus Graptostethus and Spilostethus
Family Lygaeidae
- Nymphs feeding on Milkweed seed pod
- Genus Graptostethus and Spilostethus are closely related. They were always found on Milkweed plants. They are brightly red in colour with distinguish black patterns.
- Orange Milkweed Bug
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- Graptostethus cardinalis, body length 10mm
- Found this bug once on 2002. This could be just a colour variation of the above species.
- Large Milkweed Bug
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- Graptostethus varipictus, body length 10mm
- This is the largest Milkweed Bug that we found. The bug is somewhat ovate with broad head. They were found on Milkweed plants. They are brightly red in colour with black patterns. Please check this page for detail information.
- Darth Maul Bug
- Spilostethus hospes, body length 10mm
- This Large Milkweed Bugs are red in colour, with black pattern on wings. This is the warning colour patterns to the predators. Their antennae and legs are all in black colour. They can be found feeding on Milkweed plant seedpods. Details please see the Large Milkweed Bugs page.
- Reference:
- 1. Insects
of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University
Press, 2nd Edition 1991, pp 499.
- 2. LYGAEIDAE - Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, 2002.
- 3. A taxonomic revision of the Lygaeinae of Australia (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) - Slater, A., University of Kansas science bulletin, v. 52(8,i.e.9) p. 301-481, 1985.
This page contains pictures and information about Large Milkweed Bugs in Genus Graptostethus and Spilostethus that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
