red milkweed beetles (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus) on common milkweed at Decorah Prairie IA 854A5677

Tis the season for red milkweed beetles to be out and about on common milkweed plants. Since these beetles eat milkweed leaves, they are full of milkweed toxins and wear the universal red and black warning colors that tell predators to stay away. Female red milkweed beetles are bigger than males, and when females are in short supply the males will fight over the chance to mate with them. In this case, the old saying "two's company, three's a crowd" probably holds true😁

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