I need some help in deciding what to do about these three... I have a pretty extensive collection of milkweed that I love (Asclepias tuberosa), and it has some of each of these critters. What are the pros (if any) of keeping any of these three around? And the cons? How do I get rid of the milkweed beetles- they bite, and that's nearly a deal-breaker for me unless they have some strong benefits. Any advice on what to do here would be much appreciated!
Good/Bad/Ugly?:Aphids, Assasin bugs, Milkweed beetles
I'm sorry no one has resonded. I don't know anything about the three. Come on guys, help sellier out here!
I've been watching this thread, too. Anxious to find out the answer, as I also have a problem with the milkweed beetles. Always wondered if I should get rid of them or not. Did not know that they bite!!
Personally, I get rid of all the milkweed bugs that I can! There is nothing good about them at all. They suck the pods dry and multiply like the aphids. They run fast tho so I've been successful with my "bucket of death". I just fill a bucket with water and add some orange oil and a little liquid soap to make just a few bubbles (keeps them in) and then I put the bucket underneath the plant and quickly bend it over and knock them into the bucket. :) muahahaha! I didn't know they would bite either, but then don't think I've ever had one on me.
I started battling the aphids right off this year with insecticidal soap. Last year I didn't because I fear using it with my cats BUT I don't usually get any eggs until late in the season and that left me battling tons of aphids all year. So I started spraying at first sight this year. That really kept them in check and I've had a lot of ladybugs around on some huge sunflowers so I'm hoping they snack on the milkweed aphids too. I have also used the bucket with aphids. I bend the tip of the plant over into the bucket and swish it around and wash them off.
Assassin bugs aren't usually a problem. They do kill cats but don't damage the plants. I'd just move them to another plant if you can catch them.
Just my opinions, but hope it helps!
Paige
konkrete, you are right on about moving those assassins to another plant. They will suck the juices right out of the little cats. I just transferred a bunch of them off of my parsley because of that very reason - after finding the little remains of several black swallowtail cats. I like 'em, but not on larval butterfly plants!
Now, I wouldn't do anything about the aphids. Butterfly weed comes with aphids. And spraying any kind of insecticide at all, including soap, will kill the baby cats, and the eggs that might have already been lain by the monarch momma. In this zone, we will already have those eggs as the monarchs have migrated up through this area and laid eggs on the way. I just leave them be - the price I have to pay for having monarch babies. I really like konkrete's idea about getting rid of the milkweed bugs & beetles. I really dislike those guys, but have always felt there was nothing I could do about them. Now I see there is... Thanks, konkrete!
CJ
I'm losing my cats to spiders this year so I've decided to start bringing some inside. I'm not seeing remains, like with assassin bugs and some spiders, just spiders sitting in the dill and I know they have a wicked grin on their faces.
I'm so excited to say that I have NO aphids on my milkweeds! For me, killing the first batch of them has worked great, but further south it could be dangerous for cats.
I have this gigantic sunflower that grew from a seed from one last year. It's about 7ft tall or so now, and still growing. It's not particularly pretty but what's worse is that each of the gigantic leaves is covered underneath with aphids. The GREAT thing about this tho is that they have attracted LADYBUGS!
Last week I watched the ladybugs and decided that for that reason alone I could endure the beanstalk it was becoming. I also noticed some bright yellow eggs which I had hoped were ladybugs and lacewing eggs. Today I found what must be hundreds of ladybug larvae all over the leaves of the entire plant!! woohoo!!
I was actually wondering how I could save some of them and make sure they stay around for the next batch of milkweed aphids. If I put leaves and larvae in a fish tank that I use for caterpillars I could maybe just raise them. ??
Nah. They'll stay around as long as there is food for them. I took another batch of assassin bug nymphs off my parsley today. Couldn't find any cats. And right next to the parsley, where two cardamom gingers are, I saw wasps going in and out - obviously a nest or two in there. Couldn't find the cats on the rue either. Then I found a dead purple martin flegling not too far from the martin house with not a mark on him. It's been a bad day!
I agree......best to assassinate the assassin bugs. They are serious predators and will kill cats and anything that moves. I, too, get some sudsy water in a dish and push those bean beetles? into the water. Eventually they stopped coming to the B. weed. As for the aphids, it seems like they can really weaken a plant, so I squirt them with a heavy spray of water from a spray bottle. I'm afraid to use a pesticide because of the cat eggs, and the monarchs like to land on the flowers. I wouldn't want them to be drinking the pesticide.
This message was edited Jun 16, 2006 7:48 PM
hmmmmmmmmm I have never had a problem with aphids affecting my milkweed plants. When they look full I just run my hand down the stalk and sqiush them. I always keep some in pots to put with the plants I over winter in the GH. Aphids never get on my other plants, they stay on the milkweed.