Bugland: The Mighty Milkweed Borer
It’s fairly common knowledge that monarch butterflies depend on the milkweed plant to survive and thrive. But the winged beauties aren’t the only creatures that rely on the plant, which is really a complex ecosystem. Milkweed borers also live among the leaves, feeding on the sap and seeds of the plant. Like the monarch, these little beetles use the toxins from the plant as protection from predators, by advertising their conspicuous red markings. Photo by Mark Silverstein