Milkweed Longhorn Beetle
August 8, 2016 | Cool Bugs!
The Milkweed Longhorn Beetle is found throughout the United States….and we found one in our field! As the name suggests, these beetles love milkweed and are generally easy to find anywhere there is milkweed. The adult female lays her eggs on or near milkweed plants. The larvae feed on the stems, overwinter in the roots and then pupate in the spring. The adults emerge in early summer and then feed on the milkweed leaves and buds.
The Milkweed Longhorn Beetle is not generally considered a pest, since it feeds exclusively on milkweed. In fact, they are sometimes considered a beneficial because they can enable you to have some milkweed plants (which attract butterflies), but prevent the milkweed from taking over. In most cases, you do not need to do anything to control Milkweed Longhorn Beetles unless you are worried about losing too many milkweed plants.
And no, this beetle does not actually have horns, those are just very impressive antennae!