ENT 532 Fall 2024: Milkweed Bug Observations
Photos and a couple of sketches showcasing the milkweed bug nymphs I observed at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center (09/22/2024).
My observations:
11:25am: Sun is starting to come out and I notice a cluster of the same species of different nymph life stages. When I kneeled down for a closer look, the whole group shifted around the fruit of the milkweed. After stepping away, the group regathered after a few minutes. They then clustered on top of each other and generally stayed that way, but a few would adjust position intermittently. The insects are orange and black. All have black heads and antennae, but different black markings on orange body.
End observation at 11:42.
Thoughts:
I remember being surprised that the whole group had moved so in sync. I wonder how they know to move all at once. Was it chemical signaling? Was it an automated response? Is this something they know to do when they hatch, or is it a learned behavior?