Insects and Spiders

Small Milkweed Bugs

This was a new species for me. I'd seen large milkweed bugs but not this species. The orange X on the back with the two little white dots in the middle of the black helps identify them. As you can see, the genders look alike. These two were getting busy on an antelopehorn milkweed seedpod. The wind was blowing like cazy so I had a hard time getting a shot in focus.
Male & Female Small Milkweed Bugs (Lygaeus kalmii)
Antelopehorns Milkweed Seedpod (Asclepias asperula ssp. capricornu)

Lygaeus kalmiiSmall Milkweed Bugsmilkweed bugsmilkweedmonarch host plantbuginsectmilkweed bugadult milkweed bugorange and black bugcolorfulclose upmatingAsclepias asperula ssp. capricornuAntelope Horns Milkweed Seed Podmilkweed seed podseed podtexas wildflowernative wildflowerwhite rock lakedallas texaswinfrey pointblackland prairiewildflowerwildflower meadownew species for memale small milkweed bugfemale small milkweed bug