Milkweed beetles (Tetraopes tetrophthalmus) bite repeatedly into the midribs of the milkweed plant's leaves. This behavior
A) allows them to feed from the highly nutritious sap contained in the leaves, which can be harvested in no other way.
B) allows them to feed from the tips of the leaves without being bothered by the noxious chemicals in the sap.
C) attracts other beetles, which provides an opportunity for a male to court a larger number of females simultaneously than would otherwise be possible.
D) causes the plant to die, which eventually eliminates a potentially dangerous plant from the beetles' environment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Milkweed beetles bite into the midribs to drain the sap, reducing the flow of toxic latex to the leaf tips, allowing them to feed without being affected by the plant's defensive chemicals.

Milkweed Beetles (Tetraopes Tetrophthalmus) Bite Repeatedly into the Midribs of the Milkweed