Harvey County Parks

7 hours ago

CRITTER OF THE WEEK!
Red Milkweed Beetle
Tetraopes tetrophthalmus
The Red milkweed beetle is a brightly colored insect that can be seen wherever its host plant, common milkweed is found. Their range matches the native distribution of Common milkweed. This means that they are mostly found in the Northeastern quadrant of North America. They are easily identified by their bright red carapace, black oval markings, and long antennae. They are sometimes called milkweed borers and Four-eyed beetles. Both their species and genus name means four eyed. Their antenna divides each compound eye, giving them a lower and upper eye. Many insects that feed on the milkweed plant are brightly colored. They are all using a defense mechanism called aposematism. The black and red, much like the black and orange of the monarch butterflies warns predators of their toxicity and bitter taste. Insects that eat the milkweed plant sequester cardiac glycosides making them taste very bad, and making predators that eat them sick. You may find Red milkweed beetles and other insects like monarch caterpillars on the same plant. That’s not a problem. These beetles are herbivores and will not harm monarch eggs or larvae. Early in the summer, after mating, females lay their eggs low on a stem of milkweed or very close by. These eggs hatch and the larvae migrate to the roots of the milkweed plant. If the eggs are laid on the stem the larvae can travel under the plants skin. When eggs aren’t laid on the host plant, larvae must tunnel through the soil. They eat the roots of the plant, and when its time, they overwinter there. When spring arrives, they may feed a bit more on the roots. They then create an earthen chamber to pupate in. At the beginning of the summer, they emerge as adults. Adult Red milkweed beetles eat leaves, buds and flowers of the milkweed plant. The Red milkweed beetle pictured here was found at Harvey County East Park on June 19, 2020.CRITTER OF THE WEEK!
Red Milkweed Beetle
Tetraopes tetrophthalmus
The Red milkweed beetle is a brightly colored insect that can be seen wherever its host plant, common milkweed is found. Their range matches the native distribution of Common milkweed. This means that they are mostly found in the Northeastern quadrant of North America. They are easily identified by their bright red carapace, black oval markings, and long antennae. They are sometimes called milkweed borers and Four-eyed beetles. Both their species and genus name means four eyed. Their antenna divides each compound eye, giving them a lower and upper eye. Many insects that feed on the milkweed plant are brightly colored. They are all using a defense mechanism called aposematism. The black and red, much like the black and orange of the monarch butterflies warns predators of their toxicity and bitter taste. Insects that eat the milkweed plant sequester cardiac glycosides making them taste very bad, and making predators that eat them sick. You may find Red milkweed beetles and other insects like monarch caterpillars on the same plant. That’s not a problem. These beetles are herbivores and will not harm monarch eggs or larvae. Early in the summer, after mating, females lay their eggs low on a stem of milkweed or very close by. These eggs hatch and the larvae migrate to the roots of the milkweed plant. If the eggs are laid on the stem the larvae can travel under the plants skin. When eggs aren’t laid on the host plant, larvae must tunnel through the soil. They eat the roots of the plant, and when its time, they overwinter there. When spring arrives, they may feed a bit more on the roots. They then create an earthen chamber to pupate in. At the beginning of the summer, they emerge as adults. Adult Red milkweed beetles eat leaves, buds and flowers of the milkweed plant. The Red milkweed beetle pictured here was found at Harvey County East Park on June 19, 2020. ... See moreSee less

Harvey County Parks

1 week ago

Camping season is over 😢, and it was a crazy one for us. But, that means it is time to start up "Critter of the Week" again! This week Naturalist Rachel has picked the Clouded Sulphur Butterfly as her subject. If you have a critter (fauna or flora) that you are interested in feel free to drop us a message and we will do our best to feature it. We do ask that you we keep all subjects native to Kansas.

Clouded Sulphur
Colius philodice
The clouded Sulphur is a delicate butterfly that can be seen throughout the state of Kansas from March until December depending on the weather. This pale yellow insect is the state’s most common yellow butterfly. It is a medium-sized butterfly that was named after the yellow nonmetal, Sulphur. Adults of this species love dandelions, and larva enjoy eating white clover. They are an important prey item for a number of animals and they also pollinate many types of flowers. Newly emerged individuals have a thin pink border around their wings. Females may vary in color, and can be bright yellow or greenish white. It is not uncommon to see a white form female. They can be differentiated from other white butterflies by the dark outer wing edges. Male clouded sulphurs are typically a brighter yellow than the females. Both genders have a double white spot on their forewing. This is usually more pronounced on males, with a dark border. In the summer time, these butterflies are larger than they are in the spring or fall. The orange Sulphur butterfly looks a lot like the clouded Sulphur, except the clouded Sulphur does not have orange on its upper wings. The Clouded Sulphur is sometimes confused with the cloudless Sulphur butterfly. We do see the cloudless Sulphur in Kansas, but they are much less common. The cloudless sulphur is more abundant in southern states and in Mexico. Also, the cloudless Sulphur is larger (2-2 ¾ inches) and a brighter yellow. Clouded Sulphur butterflies are typically seen flying low near meadows and gardens. Adults use a large variety of nectar sources for food, and the larva prefer clover, alfalfa, and vetch species. After mating, females will lay a single egg on a host plant. The egg is yellow at first but later turns crimson. Eggs hatch after about 5 days. Larva are green with a dark stripe down their back, and white lateral stripes on their sides. Larva feed on host plants until they are full grown. This usually takes 3 weeks and afterwards the non-wintering generation spends about 10 days in chrysalis before becoming an adult. The overwintering generation spends the entire winter in chrysalis form, and emerges in the spring. The butterfly pictured here was spotted on March 2, 2020.Camping season is over 😢, and it was a crazy one for us. But, that means it is time to start up "Critter of the Week" again! This week Naturalist Rachel has picked the Clouded Sulphur Butterfly as her subject. If you have a critter (fauna or flora) that you are interested in feel free to drop us a message and we will do our best to feature it. We do ask that you we keep all subjects native to Kansas.

Clouded Sulphur
Colius philodice
The clouded Sulphur is a delicate butterfly that can be seen throughout the state of Kansas from March until December depending on the weather. This pale yellow insect is the state’s most common yellow butterfly. It is a medium-sized butterfly that was named after the yellow nonmetal, Sulphur. Adults of this species love dandelions, and larva enjoy eating white clover. They are an important prey item for a number of animals and they also pollinate many types of flowers. Newly emerged individuals have a thin pink border around their wings. Females may vary in color, and can be bright yellow or greenish white. It is not uncommon to see a white form female. They can be differentiated from other white butterflies by the dark outer wing edges. Male clouded sulphurs are typically a brighter yellow than the females. Both genders have a double white spot on their forewing. This is usually more pronounced on males, with a dark border. In the summer time, these butterflies are larger than they are in the spring or fall. The orange Sulphur butterfly looks a lot like the clouded Sulphur, except the clouded Sulphur does not have orange on its upper wings. The Clouded Sulphur is sometimes confused with the cloudless Sulphur butterfly. We do see the cloudless Sulphur in Kansas, but they are much less common. The cloudless sulphur is more abundant in southern states and in Mexico. Also, the cloudless Sulphur is larger (2-2 ¾ inches) and a brighter yellow. Clouded Sulphur butterflies are typically seen flying low near meadows and gardens. Adults use a large variety of nectar sources for food, and the larva prefer clover, alfalfa, and vetch species. After mating, females will lay a single egg on a host plant. The egg is yellow at first but later turns crimson. Eggs hatch after about 5 days. Larva are green with a dark stripe down their back, and white lateral stripes on their sides. Larva feed on host plants until they are full grown. This usually takes 3 weeks and afterwards the non-wintering generation spends about 10 days in chrysalis before becoming an adult. The overwintering generation spends the entire winter in chrysalis form, and emerges in the spring. The butterfly pictured here was spotted on March 2, 2020. ... See moreSee less