The milkweed leaf beetle (Labidomera clivicollis) is a species of leaf beetle from the family Chrysomelidae.[2] It is round bodied, 8–11 mm in length with a black head and pronotum and bright orange to yellow elytra with variable mottled black patches. It is colored and shaped like a super-sized ladybird beetle even though the ladybird is in a different family, Coccinellidae. The larva is shaped much like the adult except with a small tail extension. Its color varies from bright orange to white with a gray to black pronotum and prominent black spots around its spiracles.
There are a number of L. clivicollis host plants which are toxic to most herbivores. Many are in the dogbane family (Apocynaceae) including milkweeds, especially swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) and common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca); swallow-wort (Cynanchum); twinevine (Funastrum).[1] Others are in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) including Carolina horsenettles (Solanum carolinense).
Life cycleedit
The female lays small groups of orange jellybean-like eggs on its host plant.
Miniature sized larvae, about the same shape as later instars, hatch in about a week and graze night and day.
Larva eating horsenettle leaves and stems. Notice the embedded leaf prickles that extend through the leaf that the larvae avoid while chewing. Last shows beetles internals through transparent exoskeleton.
Finally the mature larvae move to the soil to pupate. After a few weeks, adults emerge to start the next generation eating the same host plants as the larvae. An adult may displace a monarch larvae to feed at the same site.[3]
As autumn approaches, the adults feed and eventually find places to shelter through the winter.[4]
Acquired protectionedit
The bright coloration of the milkweed leaf beetle is a classic example of Aposematism. Several insects that share some of the same hosts sport similar warning coloration: monarch, milkweed tussock moths, milkweed beetles and milkweed bugs and hence illustrate Műllerian mimicry.
These insects have evolved the ability to thrive on these plants despite the presence of noxious poisons the plants have evolved to protect themselves from most herbivores. These toxins help protect these insects from being eaten by visually gifted predators like birds that regularly prey on caterpillars, butterflies, and beetles. The conspicuous orange and black colors serve as a reminder of a potentially nasty gastronomic misadventure to experienced birds and other predators that may have attempted to make a meal of them.[3][1]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Labidomera clivicollis.
^ ab"Hey beetles, leave some milkweed for the monarchs: Milkweed leaf beetle, Labidomera clivicollis". bugoftheweek.com. 2020-07-27.
^"MDC Field Guide - Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved 2024-01-20.
January 01, 1970
milkweed, leaf, beetle, confused, with, tropical, milkweed, leaf, beetle, milkweed, leaf, beetle, labidomera, clivicollis, species, leaf, beetle, from, family, chrysomelidae, round, bodied, length, with, black, head, pronotum, bright, orange, yellow, elytra, w. Not to be confused with tropical milkweed leaf beetle The milkweed leaf beetle Labidomera clivicollis is a species of leaf beetle from the family Chrysomelidae 2 It is round bodied 8 11 mm in length with a black head and pronotum and bright orange to yellow elytra with variable mottled black patches It is colored and shaped like a super sized ladybird beetle even though the ladybird is in a different family Coccinellidae The larva is shaped much like the adult except with a small tail extension Its color varies from bright orange to white with a gray to black pronotum and prominent black spots around its spiracles Milkweed leaf beetle Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Coleoptera Infraorder Cucujiformia Family Chrysomelidae Genus Labidomera Species L clivicollis Binomial name Labidomera clivicollis Kirby 1837 Synonyms 1 Chrysomela clivicollis Kirby 1837 Larva Contents 1 Diet 2 Life cycle 3 Acquired protection 4 ReferencesDiet editThere are a number of L clivicollis host plants which are toxic to most herbivores Many are in the dogbane family Apocynaceae including milkweeds especially swamp milkweed Asclepias incarnata and common milkweed Asclepias syriaca swallow wort Cynanchum twinevine Funastrum 1 Others are in the nightshade family Solanaceae including Carolina horsenettles Solanum carolinense Life cycle editThe female lays small groups of orange jellybean like eggs on its host plant Miniature sized larvae about the same shape as later instars hatch in about a week and graze night and day source source source source source source source source Larva eating horsenettle leaves and stems Notice the embedded leaf prickles that extend through the leaf that the larvae avoid while chewing Last shows beetles internals through transparent exoskeleton Finally the mature larvae move to the soil to pupate After a few weeks adults emerge to start the next generation eating the same host plants as the larvae An adult may displace a monarch larvae to feed at the same site 3 source source source source source source source source Milkweed leaf beetle adult on milkweed As autumn approaches the adults feed and eventually find places to shelter through the winter 4 Acquired protection editThe bright coloration of the milkweed leaf beetle is a classic example of Aposematism Several insects that share some of the same hosts sport similar warning coloration monarch milkweed tussock moths milkweed beetles and milkweed bugs and hence illustrate Mullerian mimicry These insects have evolved the ability to thrive on these plants despite the presence of noxious poisons the plants have evolved to protect themselves from most herbivores These toxins help protect these insects from being eaten by visually gifted predators like birds that regularly prey on caterpillars butterflies and beetles The conspicuous orange and black colors serve as a reminder of a potentially nasty gastronomic misadventure to experienced birds and other predators that may have attempted to make a meal of them 3 1 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Labidomera clivicollis a b c Species Labidomera clivicollis Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle BugGuide net Retrieved 2017 07 20 Labidomera clivicollis Kirby 1837 Integrated Taxonomic Information System Retrieved 2017 07 20 a b Hey beetles leave some milkweed for the monarchs Milkweed leaf beetle Labidomera clivicollis bugoftheweek com 2020 07 27 MDC Field Guide Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle Missouri Department of Conservation Retrieved 2024 01 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Milkweed leaf beetle amp oldid 1225364995, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
