Divergence in Seed Resource Use among Neotropical Milkweed Bugs (Oncopeltus)

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Abstract
The colonization of seed crops on the milkweed Asclepias curassavica L. by O. fasciatus Dallas and 2 ssp. of O. cingulifer Stal was studied by examining the distribution of nymphs on fruiting and non-fruiting plants. O. fasciatus was strongly associated with fruiting plants, despite their infrequent occurrence. O. c. cingulifer and O. c. antillensis appeared progressively less successful colonizers and were often found on plants which lacked seeds. Increasing specialization on transient A. curassavica seed crops was associated with higher mobility, less frequent ovipositing and greater dependence on seeds for larval development. In areas of sympatry, competition among Oncopeltus spp. for A. curassavica seed crops may have led to divergence in the utilization of this resource.