Milkweed bug (likely large milkweed bug)

Open, warm habitats containing milkweed, including meadows, roadsides, gardens, and disturbed areas. This image appears to show adults on a milkweed plant.

Nymphs and adults pierce milkweed seeds, pods, and stems to drink plant sap. They may also consume nectar or fluids from damaged insects.

Often aggregate in groups on milkweed and pass through five nymphal stages before adulthood. Adults can overwinter in sheltered places and are conspicuously orange-and-black, warning predators of toxins sequestered from milkweed.

They do not bite people, transmit disease, or usually cause serious plant damage. Their feeding can reduce milkweed seed production, while their presence contributes to food webs and may help regulate milkweed growth.