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 22 adult Tetraopes beetles DHJanzen100185.jpg high resolution
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| Newly eclosed adult Tetraopes beetles (Cerambycidae) mating on the milkweed plant from which they get their defensive chemicals by feeding on the leaves as adults (see DHJanzen100183.jpg). The beetles are not only bright red, but diurnally active and commonly encountered perched on the uppersides of the leavesw. These beetles have not been closely studied with respect to their predators as is the case with the monarch butterfly. I note, however, that they will flee the human predator, implying that there may be some other vertebrate predators that can/do feed on them. The same applies to the monarch butterfly, incidentally. | ||
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