False milkweed bug

December 3, 2025

Sample information
Picture
Photos by: Amuktha S
Location
Collection date 09/25/2025
Captive / Cultivated? Wild-caught
Group NCSSM
Observations

I found this milkweed bug behind the residential building. It was found on a sunflower in the morning at about 11:00 am. There were most likely more milkweed bugs in the area but I only collected two.

Putative identification Arthropoda Insecta Hemiptera Lygaeidae

Methods
Extraction kit DNeasy (Qiagen)
DNA extraction location Abdomen
Single or Duplex PCR Single Reaction
Gel electrophoresis system MiniPCR
Buffer TBE
DNA stain GelGreen
Gel images
Protocol notes

DNA Extraction: I made sure to take off the exoskeleton and dissect the abdomen.

Gel Lanes: Lane 1: 100bp Ladder
Lane 2: (1A) 708 bp ~ Arthropod DNA
Lane 3: (1W) No Band
Lane 4: (2A) 708 bp ~ Arthropod DNA
Lane 5: (2W) No Band
Lane 10: (A+) 708 bp ~ Arthropod DNA
Lane 11: (A-) No Band
Lane 12: (W+) 438 bp ~ Wolbachia DNA
Lane 13: (W-) No Band

Analysis: My controls worked and I had a band on my gel for my samples.

Results
Wolbachia presence No
Confidence level Medium
Explanation of confidence level

All of my controls worked as expected. I was not surprised by any bands on the gel. I am confident my arthropod is not infected with Wolbachia. On the contrary, I think one of my samples might have been contaminated with an asian lady beetle.
Wolbachia 16S sequence
Arthropod COI sequence Download AB1
Summary The Lygaeidae was found to be negative for Wolbachia.
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