Help!
Googled to find what all the orange and black bugs were on my 'Soulmate' Milkweed and found out they are Milkweed bugs. They seem like they are harming and sucking the life out of the seedpods.
I don't like them and don't like them on the plant! :-((
Thanks!
Marilyn
Milkweed Bugs on Plant
They are baaaad! Kill them ASAP before they reproduce! The last few years I've had a ton of them but have just now started to see them again. I have been lucky enough to have found them mating which makes it so much easier to kill them, and 2 at once! Otherwise they fly so you have to be really quick.
I've posted this probably so many times it's annoying people, but you have to try the "bucket 'o death" method. I fill a bucket with water and put a little orange oil or dishsoap in it just to make a few bubbles then I slowly put the bucket underneath the plant then quickly WHACK them into the water. It works great with the nymphs because there is usually a large group of them.
The bigger bugs fly and see you coming so you have to be prepared (gloves) to smash them, knock them off and step on them etc etc. Whatever you can do!
Declare war now! Especially because I think that's one of those lovelies that I begged for seeds from! :)
Konkreteblond,
Thanks for the info!
How soon can I pick the seedpods so I can the seeds? How far along in looks does the seedpod look like (color) to get it to save the seeds? One or two of the seedpods is eaten open (?) and I can see the seedpods. They are not a true 'all over green', yellowish with some brown. I think the rest are that way (or, most of them).
Marilyn
This message was edited Jul 24, 2006 5:54 PM
Marilyn, I honestly don't know when you can take the pods off. This is something I've often wondered, about a lot of plants, and never remember to ask. I don't know if seeds have to dry on the plants or not. I think it might be different for some plants.
Actually, I'm not quite sure what the milkweed bugs do to the pod or the seeds. I think I've assumed they were sucking the "juices" out of them making them dry up. I don't think I've seen the bugs on the pod once it opens so they must have already done their damage.
Looks like we need an expert opinion on this seed business. Who would be our milkweed expert?? I know CaptMicha is growing a lot of different kinds. Maybe he can help!
Konkreteblond,
I collected some seedpods today (couldn't stay out too long, even though it is in the 80's and humid; I have MS - can't tolerate heat) and did your, (LOL) "bucket 'o death" for awhile. I've left the bucket with suds and bugs on the patio in the sun. How long do I leave them in there? What do I do with the 'buggy' water?
I put the seedpods in a brown paper bag and the bag is in the garage closed.
When I googled the bugs, I didn't seem to find out if they were bad or good and didn't find out what they do on the plant (except mate alot!).
I haven't forgotten you regarding the seeds (LOL) and I have to remember what 'thread' or topic we were on that you and a few others said they wanted seeds. Do you remember? Thanks!
Marilyn
Marilynbeth,
I had those milkweed bugs all over my asclepias this year. They apparently infest the pods. When the pods burst open, hundreds of little orange and black beasts came out! I was being overrun. I had to start cutting the pods off and trashing them in sealed bags. I'll get fresh seed next year. The seed actually looked OK, but I definitely didn't try keeping any.
You can think you've killed them all, but if the pods start opening and they multiply by the hundreds, they can really get ahead of you. Romoving the pods seems to break the chain. Good luck.
Did you actually see the baby beasts coming out of the pod?? I know that they are usually on the pods but have never seen them coming out of one. I have seen them all over closed pods actually. I'll have to watch carefully this year!
The bucket 'o death works great on those babies! Just dunk the whole pod in the water and they'll get stuck in the suds or water. They'll be dead tomorrow so you can either just keep using the same bucket or dump it out somewhere. I dump mine on the driveway or the street since it has soap in it.
I don't remember what thread that was either Marilyn. I only remembered it because of the name of the plant "Soulmate". I'll d-mail you if I run across it.