The male has two thick black strips. Adults mate end to end. They may stay attached for 30 minutes or more. Milkweed bugs are hemimetabolous insects, i.e. they have incomplete metamorphosis. Black wing pads appear early in development.
Nymphs have bright red abdomens.
In captivity, the bugs feed on shelled sunflower seeds. Habitat Milkweed bugs are usually found in small groups on milkweed plants, often on the underside of the leaves. Milkweed plants sometimes fill entire fields in good years, but usually are found along roadways. The plant produces a milky white sap when a leaf is removed. When the seeds ripen the seed pods open up releasing the seeds which float on fluffy white parasols.