milkweed bug

noun

any of several red and black lygaeid bugs, as Oncopeltus fasciatus, that feed on the juice of the milkweed.

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Word History and Origins

First recorded in 1900–05

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The researchers compared the genes that serve as blueprints for the sodium pump in poison-resistant species, like the milkweed beetle and the milkweed bug.