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NO. 019Red milkweed beetle illustrationIllustration · not shown at life size

Beetles / Insect

Red milkweed beetle

Tetraopes tetrophthalmus

AdultFind the right habitat

Check the milkweed leaves for a red beetle with black spots. Its antennae split each eye into two parts.

Let’s look closer

Little clues

Three things to notice.

  1. Four black spots on wing covers.

  2. Antennae divide each eye in two.

  3. Adults chew milkweed leaves.

Out in the world

Where to look.

Around southeastern Wisconsin

Common milkweed patches.

When to look

Early summer, when common milkweed begins flowering.

Look closely. Leave your tiny neighbor where you found it.

A closer look

One clue is just the start.

Look where each antenna meets the head. Its base divides an eye into two parts, giving the beetle its four-eyed name.

A special find can be hard to spot without being biologically rare. Encounters depend on season and habitat.

Keep exploring

Meet the neighbors.

For curious grownups, too

Read a little further.

Original summaries, with references for deeper reading.

Make a creature disc

Artwork & downloads.

Drag a PNG image into xTool Studio, or use its download button. Images use the full-resolution files.

  • Red milkweed beetle — Transparent front PNG

    Transparent front PNG

    76.2 mm canvas · white-outlined labels on a clear background

    019-front.png
    1800 × 1800 px

    Download PNG
  • Red milkweed beetle — Relief depth PNG — prototype

    Relief depth PNG — prototype

    Matches this front · dark lettering 0.5 mm, outline 0.1 mm at 1 mm maximum

    019-height-disc.png
    1800 × 1800 px

    Download PNG
  • Red milkweed beetle — Original artwork

    Original artwork

    Unmodified source PNG

    019-red-milkweed-beetle-final.png
    1254 × 1254 px

    Download PNG

  • Editable front SVG

    Common & scientific names · finding clue · editable labels

    019-front.svg

    Download SVG

Front artwork is made for a 3-inch clear disc. Revised artwork still needs a physical check. Disc backs are blank; use the single carrier QR from the print studio to open the field guide.

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