Milkweed pests

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CaptMicha Brookeville, MD(Zone 7a) Jun 15, 2007

Milkweed bugs and beetles gather in large numbers on my milkweeds. I grosses me out b/c I don't like bugs and also, they bore holes in the milkweed stalks and the plants are impaired so by the time the monarchs arrive, they don't get as much food as they could be getting. Plus, I need a bunch of leaves to freeze for breeding monarchs. Which I can't get if the bugs destroy them.

Should I pick them off and do something with them...? A bucket of soapy water? It sounds kind of horrible but I did it w/ Japanese beetles b/c I don't show any mercy when it comes to them.

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Jun 15, 2007

Absolutely. You can't spray them or you will kill the monarch caterpillars. Knock those suckers off into a bucket of soapy water and give them a nice bath. I've noticed that squeeky clean bugs don't tend to eat.

You freeze leaves to breed monarchs? I didn't know they would eat that....

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CaptMicha Brookeville, MD(Zone 7a) Jun 16, 2007

I don't know either. I guess I'll find out.

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