EVIDENCE 1
​This is a diagram shows all the different parts of a milkweed bug.
EVIDENCE 3 ​
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EVIDENCE 2
​Milkweed bugs in nature sucks nutrients from milkweed seeds, but those used in classroom investigations have been bred to feed exclusively on sunflower seeds.
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Milkweed bugs go through simple metamorphosis, the insect emerges from an egg looking like a tiny version of the adult, with slight differences in body proportions and incompletely developed wings.
Development of milkweed bug is: emergence - (1st instar) - first molt - (2nd instar) - second molt - (3rd instar) - third molt - (4th instar) - 4th molt - (5th instar) - 5th molt (adult).
EVIDENCE 4
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​If the segment following the orange band is orange in the middle, making it look like it has two large black spots on sides, followed by a segment with a solid black band then the bug is female. If the next two segments following the orange band have solid black bands, the bug is male.
EVIDENCE 5
Milkweed bugs mate by attaching to each other end to end for an extended amount of time, 30 minutes or more.
EVIDENCE 6
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Milkweed bugs are usually found in small groups on milkweed plants( which is what the bugs are on in this photo), often on the underside of the leaves. The plant produces a milky white sap when a leaf is removed. It is important to know that Milkweed bugs are extremely easy to contain/keep because they can walk on any surface, including smooth plastic, glass, metal, wet surfaces, and all textured surfaces.
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EVIDENCE