What do milkweed bugs eat?

Answer 1

In response to the previous comment (Duhh)

Milkweed Assassin Bugs are widespread in the Galveston County area and they are highly beneficial insects. They eat a variety of insects including aphids, armyworms, stink bugs, houseflies, etc. Milkweed Assassin Bugs have a bright red-colored body with long black legs, black wings and long black antenna.

Although most assassin bugs are slow-moving and non-aggressive, they will use their rostrum in self-defense if handled carelessly. Such bites may be rather painful to humans because the bugs inject the same salivary secretion used to dissolve the tissues of their prey. This results in the death of a small area of cells at the site of the bite. The symptoms are an intense burning sensation, often followed by a small, itchy lump that may persist for several days. However, no true toxin is involved so it is rare for the reaction to last long or to extend beyond the site of the bite. Some bites occur when the bugs are purposely handled out of curiosity, but most happen through accidental contact while gardening or working in the open. The sharp pain associated with assassin bug bites is usually enhanced by the surprise accompanying the experience.

Milkweed bugs do not bite because they do not even have teeth. Duhh

Answer 2

Not even a bit. Milkweeds won't bite, sting or do anything to hurt you. If you eat them you won't even get sick. I am 11 and always have played with them my whole life and never got hurt by them. All they do is fly and live in tall bushes.

Answer 3

Yes it is poisonous

Answer:

Like many plants milkweed is toxic - but the toxicity varies by the species of milkweed and the part (root, stem, etc) eaten and how the plant is prepared for eating.

Numerous American Indian tribes boiled and ate milkweed roots, shoots and buds. Wild-food enthusiasts typically boil and eat the shoots or buds of immature common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) but avoid eating mature stems, leaves, pods and seeds. Common milkweed is slightly toxic to humans, but only if eaten in large amounts. Large amounts of improperly prepared milkweed of any species can cause bloating, fever, difficulty breathing, dilated pupils and muscle spasms, and can be fatal.

Answer 4

Milkweed bugs in the family Lygaeidae are not harmful to people....unless you eat them.

Both the Large Milkweed Bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus, and the Smaller Milkweed Bug, Lygaeus kalmii, feed on milkweed, which is a toxic plant. The bugs acquire the toxic chemicals in the plant and use it to defend themselves from their own predators.

Milkweed bugs are colored bright orange or red and black as a warning of their toxicity to potential predators.

The chemicals are called cardiac glycocides, used in medicine to treat certain heart ailments. The substances can have adverse effects when ingested without proper medical supervision.

It is best to keep children from putting any kind of insect into their mouth, to be on the safe side.

Answer 5

Milkweed,

they are also able to eat sunflower seeds as a result of scientific testing because some contain a gene to be able to consume them

Answer 6

No they are not harmful to humans, only plants.

Answer 7

Milkweed bugs primarily feed on the seeds within milkweed pods. They use their mouthparts to pierce the pods and extract the seeds, which are their main source of nutrition.

Answer 8

Yes, milkweed bugs are poisonous. Milkweed bugs accumulate their poison from the seeds of the milkweed plant. Their bright color is meant to warn predators of their poisonous nature.

Answer 9

They live on milkweed so they are poisonous to other animals.

Answer 10

milkweed bugs eat ofcourse milkweed pods