About the Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle
The milkweed leaf beetle, or swamp milkweed leaf beetle (Labidomera clivicollis) is a species of leaf beetle from the family Chrysomelidae. It is found in eastern Northern America. These leaf beetles are round bodied, 8–11 mm in length, with a black head and pronotum and bright orange to yellow elytra with variable mottled black patches. L. clivicollis somewhat resembles a large ladybird beetle, and though it is not in the ladybird family (Coccinellidae), it is closely related (infraorder Cucujiformia). The larvae are light orange, white, or gray with a black pronotum and prominent black spots on the spiracles. They are grub-like and can be found feeding on milkweeds, especially swamp milkweed. Milkweed leaf beetle larvae can be distinguished from visually similar and closely related species by color, host plant, and number of spots.
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).
The female lays small groups of orange... Wikipedia →