Milkweed Party

A larval Large Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus, on its eponymous food source in Brooklyn Bridge Park.Two of the adults. The park has several species of milkweed, which hosts a number of interesting animals. Monarch butterflies (and their caterpillars) are the most famous milkweed fans, but they have flown south for the winter. These milkweed bugs, however, were out in force yesterday, enjoying the warm weather.Their bright pattern serves as a warning: they are not tasty, having picked up some of their food source’s bitterness.They will often group together for a feed. Note that there is a Small Milkweed Bug but no, to my knowledge, Medium Milkweed Bug.