NO. 019
Beetles
Red milkweed beetle
Four black spots on wing covers
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NO. 041
Illustration · not shown at life size
Illustration · not shown at life sizeTrue bugs / Insect
Large milkweed bug
Oncopeltus fasciatus
Look at milkweed seedpods for orange-and-black bugs. A wide black band crosses the adult’s middle.
Let’s look closerLittle clues
Three things to notice.
Orange-and-black wings.
Broad black band across the middle.
Feeds mainly on milkweed seeds.
Out in the world
Where to look.
Around southeastern Wisconsin
Milkweed seedpods.
When to look
Late summer and fall, often around milkweed seedpods.
Look closely. Leave your tiny neighbor where you found it.
A closer look
One clue is just the start.
The broad black band across the wings helps distinguish it from other orange-and-black milkweed insects.
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. Field notes are being checked against the supplied research.
Make a creature disc
Artwork & downloads.
Drag a PNG image into xTool Studio, or use its download button. Images use the full-resolution files.
Relief depth PNG — prototype
Matches this front · dark lettering 0.5 mm, outline 0.1 mm at 1 mm maximum
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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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