Bug #2 -- Small Milkweed Bug

Small Milkweed Bug

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hemiptera
Family: Lygaeidae

The Order Hemiptera are the "true bugs". The mouth parts are of the piercing-sucking type and are in the form of a slender segmented beak that arises from the front part of the head and usually extends back along the ventral side of the body. The Family Lygaiedae, or seed bugs, is a relatively large family of bugs. They are commonly found on vegetation and mostly feed on seeds. Color varies considerably, with the majority brownish, though some are brightly patterned such as the Milkweed Bug. It feeds on milkweed seeds. The chinch bug is probably the most injurious bug in this family. They attack wheat, rye, oats, barley, and corn. These bugs migrate on foot, and if they are abundant, they can destroy whole fields of grain. Many Hemiptera have scent glands and give off a characteristic odor when disturbed. This may be often unpleaseant to man.

Original enlargement 27 times.

Submitted by -- DeMiguel Elementary School

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