Striped plant bug (likely milkweed bug)

Open sunny habitats containing milkweeds, including meadows, roadsides, gardens, and shrub vegetation. This individual appears to be resting on foliage.

Nymphs and adults pierce seeds, fruits, and other tissues of milkweeds, especially common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), and sometimes related plants. They may also consume nectar or dead insects opportunistically.

Adults and nymphs often cluster on milkweed, particularly around seed pods, and produce several generations in warm regions. Adults can fly, overwinter in sheltered sites, and display conspicuous red-orange-and-black warning coloration.

They are not dangerous to humans and rarely cause significant garden damage. Their feeding can reduce milkweed seed production, while their conspicuous coloration reflects chemical defenses acquired from milkweed and they serve as prey for other wildlife.