Bugs on my Butterfly weed?? :(

gssgarden · August 10, 2016

What are these on my Butterfly Weed?? Leave them? Or Murder them??

MissS · August 10, 2016

Yep, those bugs are the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus, they sure do love their milkweeds. There are a few bugs that are drawn to the milkweeds. A little furry caterpillar that lives in groups, aphids, the beetles that you show and another black and red one which is much more rounded, Tetraopes tetrophthalmus and of course the Monarch's.

I don't think that they probably do much harm, but I squish mine.

nhardy · August 10, 2016

Kill them before they kill your plant.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/2966

Copied and pasted
Remove its food source. Red milkweed beetles only exist where their food source exists. By removing any milkweed from near your home, you will drive the beetles away to find a different location. Milkweed can be killed using a general herbicide or it can be removed by hand.

Mix a pepper or garlic spray solution. Combine 3 oz. of chopped garlic or chopped hot peppers, 2 tsp. of oil, 1 pt. of water and 4 tbsp. of liquid dish soap into a jar. Allow this to sit for one day, then strain the liquid into a spray bottle. Use this spray wherever milkweed beetles are found, either directly on the beetles or on their habitat. If beetles are still present after several days, reapply the spray.

Spray a general use insecticide on the milkweed. If natural remedies do not work, purchase an insecticide aimed at borers or beetles, or find a broad spectrum insecticide. Follow the directions printed on the package to spray the beetles and their habitat. Keep in mind that this will also kill any other beneficial insects, such as butterflies or their larvae, which use milkweed as their breeding ground.

Spray a general use insect repellant on your home to prevent the beetles from entering. Purchase an insect repellant made for home use. Follow the instructions printed on the package, spraying around doors, windows and any other access point the beetle may have into your home.

Worth1 · August 10, 2016

Milkweed bug not milkweed beetle.
I wouldn't worry about them.
http://bugguide.net/node/view/504
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...FKJbdI44OLDHBw
Worth

gssgarden · August 10, 2016

Removal -1

Keep em -2

Hmmm..... lol

MissS · August 10, 2016

You do seem to have quite a few of them... If you do decide to remove them I would use the squish method so that you do not harm any newly hatched Monarchs if they are there.

Worth1 · August 10, 2016

Just in case nobody looked at the links they eat the seeds if you dont collect the seeds then there it no real reason to get rid of them.
They are friendly and don't even bite.
Even then you could just reduce the numbers without killing them all.

They are NOT the milkweed beetle they are the milkweed bug two different critters.

Worth

Labradors2 · August 10, 2016

I vote to keep them!

Linda

Starlight · August 11, 2016

I say keep them. I get them. Not as bad as what you have, but I leave them be. Too few Monarchs left around anymore and I grow the Milkweed for them. The milkweed really doesn't have to many pests.

I find that once the pods open and the seeds float on the wind that the milkweed bugs disappear too. They milkweed bugs have a very short life span and are only around for about a month or so and then they gone.

If so many upsets you, I's follow the suggestion of the squish method too.

Worth1 · August 11, 2016

The bugs have a long lifespan and migrate that is why they leave.

Worth

August 10, 2016	#2
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,149	Yep, those bugs are the milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus, they sure do love their milkweeds. There are a few bugs that are drawn to the milkweeds. A little furry caterpillar that lives in groups, aphids, the beetles that you show and another black and red one which is much more rounded, Tetraopes tetrophthalmus and of course the Monarch's. I don't think that they probably do much harm, but I squish mine. __________________ ~ Patti ~ Last edited by MissS; August 10, 2016 at 08:02 PM.

August 10, 2016	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Milkweed bug not milkweed beetle. I wouldn't worry about them. http://bugguide.net/node/view/504 https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...FKJbdI44OLDHBw Worth Last edited by Worth1; August 10, 2016 at 08:08 PM.

August 10, 2016	#6
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,149	You do seem to have quite a few of them... If you do decide to remove them I would use the squish method so that you do not harm any newly hatched Monarchs if they are there. __________________ ~ Patti ~

August 10, 2016	#7
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Just in case nobody looked at the links they eat the seeds if you dont collect the seeds then there it no real reason to get rid of them. They are friendly and don't even bite. Even then you could just reduce the numbers without killing them all. They are NOT the milkweed beetle they are the milkweed bug two different critters. Worth Last edited by Worth1; August 10, 2016 at 09:50 PM.

August 10, 2016	#3
nhardy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: St. Louis Posts: 82	Kill them before they kill your plant. http://bugguide.net/node/view/2966 Copied and pasted Remove its food source. Red milkweed beetles only exist where their food source exists. By removing any milkweed from near your home, you will drive the beetles away to find a different location. Milkweed can be killed using a general herbicide or it can be removed by hand. Mix a pepper or garlic spray solution. Combine 3 oz. of chopped garlic or chopped hot peppers, 2 tsp. of oil, 1 pt. of water and 4 tbsp. of liquid dish soap into a jar. Allow this to sit for one day, then strain the liquid into a spray bottle. Use this spray wherever milkweed beetles are found, either directly on the beetles or on their habitat. If beetles are still present after several days, reapply the spray. Spray a general use insecticide on the milkweed. If natural remedies do not work, purchase an insecticide aimed at borers or beetles, or find a broad spectrum insecticide. Follow the directions printed on the package to spray the beetles and their habitat. Keep in mind that this will also kill any other beneficial insects, such as butterflies or their larvae, which use milkweed as their breeding ground. Spray a general use insect repellant on your home to prevent the beetles from entering. Purchase an insect repellant made for home use. Follow the instructions printed on the package, spraying around doors, windows and any other access point the beetle may have into your home.

August 10, 2016	#5
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,827	Removal -1 Keep em -2 Hmmm..... lol

August 10, 2016	#8
Labradors2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Ontario Posts: 3,895	I vote to keep them! Linda

August 11, 2016	#9
Starlight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: AL Posts: 1,993	I say keep them. I get them. Not as bad as what you have, but I leave them be. Too few Monarchs left around anymore and I grow the Milkweed for them. The milkweed really doesn't have to many pests. I find that once the pods open and the seeds float on the wind that the milkweed bugs disappear too. They milkweed bugs have a very short life span and are only around for about a month or so and then they gone. If so many upsets you, I's follow the suggestion of the squish method too.