We have numerous milkweed plants in our garden and I love these little guys! This is the appropriately named "red milkweed beetle."
My partner is away and I was taking pics of these guys for her when all of a sudden they all started moving beneath the leaves (pic 2). It was partly cloudy in my area but you could hear distant thunder and feel the temp and pressure drop. About 15 minutes later downpours!
Nature is amazing! I'm a scientist by trade and know there is an explanation for this with reaserach articles and all, but this stuff still amazes me!
by Klutzy-Delivery-5792
7 Comments
Woah that’s so cool! We have these too, I’m going to check next time there’s rain in the forecast
To add, this was in central Massachusetts. Mostly clover lawn with a plethora of native milkweed.
I also saw our first Monarch since I started letting our milkweed grow a few years ago flittering around the newly bloomed flowers. Hopefully she tells her friends where the new Massachusetts hot spot is.
https://preview.redd.it/1wiq7czimcaf1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a756d0b1e54e5a86f687202ad350a0e584b755fd
I will have to watch mine to see if they notice the rain! These two are in loooooveeee ❤️
These beetles are quite the characters too. I am doing research in a prairie remnant currently, and there is one red milkweed beetle who will climb up to the top of their clasping milkweed plant and watch me when I visit to take soil samples every week.
I’ve noticed these for the first time this year, adorable visitors.
They like to hide behind the leaves as well. They make cute noises, too.
https://preview.redd.it/8n38ei7vbdaf1.jpeg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=49c0a61751bd0d7c3a909d3e1d18bcc08cc0f398
I found one on the milkweeds between my work and the neighboring business. This was last week in Salem, NH.