Large Milkweed Bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus)

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CapeCodGardener Mid-Cape, MA(Zone 7a) Aug 25, 2007

I have read that these bugs are only harmful to milkweed plants--they look like large orange ahpids-- and that they actually are helpful in keeping milkweed in check in the wild. I have a very small butterfly garden with five milkweed plants (which I'd rather not lose) that attract a lot of butterflys. Treating them like aphids, I used insectidal soap on these beasties. But is there another way to control these? I prefer organic methods.
Thanks from a newbie.


This message was edited Aug 24, 2007 9:37 PM

This message was edited Aug 24, 2007 9:54 PM

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fly_girl The Woodlands, TX(Zone 8b) Aug 25, 2007

Those milkweed bugs love to eat the seed pods. If you cut off the pods, those mw bugs usually leave.

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Aug 25, 2007

And spraying with insecticidal soap kills small Monarch caterpillars too....

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CapeCodGardener Mid-Cape, MA(Zone 7a) Aug 25, 2007

Thank you, fly-girl and ceejaytown! I will cut off the seed pods--I don't need them to reseed. I'm glad not to spray if I don't have to.
I appreciate the quick response.

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sugarweed Taylor Creek, FL(Zone 10a) Aug 30, 2007

I have also taken clean dish soap water and a clean rag and washed them off. I used to get upset by them. The Orange aphids are born pregnant.
Doesn't that fact make your day?
;)

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Lily_love Central, AL(Zone 7b) Aug 30, 2007

From my observation, those large milkweed bugs not only suck the juice out of the milkweed's seedpod. It congergate on my adenium's seedpod as well, then I actually saw them on my Natal plum and eating away! (only the ripe plums). I haven't seen them on the green plums, but.... any thought?

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CapeCodGardener Mid-Cape, MA(Zone 7a) Aug 30, 2007

AAAAAARGH!
Born pregnant!

I'm going to try the soap & water treatment. Does that mean that insectidal soap spray would be OK?

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sugarweed Taylor Creek, FL(Zone 10a) Aug 30, 2007

YES!!!!
;)

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fly_girl The Woodlands, TX(Zone 8b) Aug 30, 2007

The least toxic to the possible Monarch eggs and cats would be the bucket-of-death method. You get a bucket and put some dish soap in there, swish it and then flick the mw bugs into it. It works and no residue to wash off.

If you use insecticidal soap or anything organic or not, it can kill the other critters that love milkweed and that are desirable.

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sugarweed Taylor Creek, FL(Zone 10a) Aug 30, 2007

Point well taken. Sorry I didn't think that through better.
;)

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ceejaytown The Woodlands, TX(Zone 9a) Aug 31, 2007

And as I recall, aphids weren't the problem, it was milkweed bugs, and they aren't born pregnant - thank goodness. Although they take care of that problem rather quickly....

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