Keeping Milkweed Bugs

Several red and black species of the sucking-bug family Lygaeidae live in the opening pods of milkweed plants and feed on the seeds. These can easily be collected alive in great numbers by shaking infested plants into a container. They are easily maintained in large covered dishes on a diet of sunflower seeds with water provided on wet cotton wool. Their bright colour is a warning to birds that they have absorbed the toxins from their food plant.