Lygaeus kalmii
| Lygaeus kalmii | ||||||||
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Lygaeus kalmii |
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| Lygaeus kalmii | ||||||||
| Stål , 1874 |
Lygaeus kalmii is a bug from the family of ground bugs (Lygaeidae). In English, the type of bug is called Small Milkweed Bug ("small silk plant bug").
features
The bugs become 10–12 mm long. They are dark gray to black in color. Two orange stripes run across the front wings , forming an approximately X-shaped pattern. The black head has an orange spot in the middle. A wide orange transverse band runs over the rear part of the pronotum, which has two black spots on the front edge and two black semicircular areas on the rear edge.
distribution and habitat
Lygaeus kalmii is widespread in North America. The bugs can be found in fields, on meadows with silk plants ( Asclepias ) (English milkweed ), but also on other plants.
Way of life
The bugs suckle on the seed pods of silk plants. They also feed on the nectar of other flowering plants and occasionally prey on insects such as honey bees , caterpillars of the monarch butterfly or leaf beetles of the species Chrysochus auratus . The adult bedbugs usually fly from June to October. In California they can be seen all year round. The eggs are laid in spring. There can be one or more generations per year. The adults hibernate.
Similar species
The related species Lygaeus turcicus , also found in the United States, looks very similar to L. kalmii . The most important distinguishing feature is the orange colored clavus of L. turcicus , which is black in L. kalmii .
supporting documents
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b c d e f g Species Lygaeus kalmii - Small Milkweed Bug . bugguide.net. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ↑ a b Lygaeus kalmii - Small Milkweed Bug . www.americaninsects.net. Archived from the original on May 24, 2014. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ↑ Small Milkweed Bug ( Lygaeus kalmii ) . www.inaturalist.org. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ↑ Lygaeus kalmii Stål SMALL MILKWEED BUG . www.discoverlife.org. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ↑ a b Species Lygaeus turcicus - False Milkweed Bug . bugguide.net. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
Web links
- Lygaeus kalmii in the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS)