Whitecrossed Seed Bug (Neacoryphus bicrucis)
(Note: Finding information on this insect was difficult. If anyone can add to, clarify and/or correct any of the information below, I'd appreciate it.)
Whitecrossed Seed Bugs are true bugs and members of the order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies) and family Lygaeidae (Seed Bugs). They have piercing-and-sucking mouthparts and feed on plant juices, particularly those from the seeds. (The milkweed bugs are close relatives and somewhat similar in appearance.)
Ragwort is often given as a host plant for N. bicrucis. Ragwort is a member of the genus Senecio, a very large genus of yellow-blooming plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae). Whitecrossed Seed Bugs are said to take in alkaloids from the ragworts. These alkaloids make them unpalatable to most would be predators. As with the milkweed bugs, the bright color of N. bicrucis announces that it is a poor prey choice.
Sources and links:
BugGuide Genus Page
University of Kentucky Lygaeoids Page
Am I Bugging You Yet blog post 1/22/07
Am I Bugging You Yet blog post 5/19/08
Wikipedia Senecio page
