Friday, May 30, 2008

Whitecrossed Seed Bug (Neacoryphus bicrucis)



Whitecrossed Seed Bug (Neacoryphus bicrucis)


(Note: Finding information on this insect was difficult. If anyone can add to, clarify and/or correct any of the information below, I'd appreciate it.)


Whitecrossed Seed Bugs are true bugs and members of the order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies) and family Lygaeidae (Seed Bugs). They have piercing-and-sucking mouthparts and feed on plant juices, particularly those from the seeds. (The milkweed bugs are close relatives and somewhat similar in appearance.)

Ragwort is often given as a host plant for N. bicrucis. Ragwort is a member of the genus Senecio, a very large genus of yellow-blooming plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae). Whitecrossed Seed Bugs are said to take in alkaloids from the ragworts. These alkaloids make them unpalatable to most would be predators. As with the milkweed bugs, the bright color of N. bicrucis announces that it is a poor prey choice.



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3 comments:

Lana Gramlich said...

Wow! What a stunning little bug! Nature never ceased to amaze me with her beauty.

smilnsigh said...

This is a beautiful photo!

Even though it is a bug. >,-)

Mari-Nanci
Photos-City-Mine

Michelle said...

I have never seen anything like that before! Nice shot against the white background.