Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis)
Cathy noticed this beetle on one of the Asclepias plants on our back patio. It isn’t one I’ve notice before but after I got the photos, I looked it up and wasn’t hugely surprised to find that it’s a swamp milkweed leaf beetle (Labidomera clivicollis), Asclepias being the milkweed genus. This particular beetle is native to the eastern half of North America, from Mexico up into Canada and east of the Rockies. Although it particularly likes (and is named for) the swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata), it will feed on pretty much any Asclepias. They vary in color from nearly yellow to orange, as in this individual, with variably shaped black spots.