Okay, I was walking around this morning and notice these guys on my butterfly weed. I am used to seeing aphids and Assassin Bug nymphs on these plants, but can't say that I have seen these guys before.
They don't look like Aphids, but I am wondering if they are mature Assassin bugs that are dining on aphids. Geez, I hope so because they looked really yucky.
Anyway, can some one tell me for sure what they are.
Thanks.
Hi,
I am not an expert on bugs but I think they are called oleander/milkweed aphids.
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/261/
I have seen those, but these guys seem to be more hard bodied than the typical aphids I have seen. Also, they are much bigger than the typical ones that I have seen.
good point. May be they are pregnant!^_^
Probably these Large Milkweed Bugs:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/go/199/
I think Claypa is right.
Yeah, I think Claypa is right. Okay, so now do they only eat milkweed? I can take a hose and wash them off, but I have rose bushes near there and they will eat them also, I would rather they eat the milkweed. Also, do they really harm anything other than just looking disgusting?
Thanks.
They are Milkweed bugs and they gather on the pods and suck them dry before the seeds are fully ripened. They reproduce constantly and overwinter in your soil so I try to get rid of as early and quickly as possible to keep them under control.
I fill a small bucket or large bowl with water, put a couple drops of orange oil (sometimes a drop of soap) and either dunk the pod and bugs into the water or thump them into it. The soap sometimes help keep them from climbing out. This is my "bucket-o-death". lol
Another great use for milkweed bugs is to feed them to the fall Argiope spiders! It's great family fun! :)
Okay, so where do I find orange oil and do these things bite? They are sooooo yucky!! I am not really squeamish about bugs, but these guys just give me the willies.
I purchased PyolaŽ Insect Spray from Gardens Alive to put on my roses for Thrips. Think it would work? I don't have any caterpillars, so I think I can do it without terrorizing the entire ecosystem.
Thanks.
I buy Medina Orange Oil from Lowe's. It's about $15 for a bottle and lasts me a long time. It just takes a little bit in a gallon to kill fire ant mounds so it just takes a drop in a bucket for bugs. You do have to be careful or it can burn plants if you actually swish the plants. It's fine for just thumping the bugs into it.
You can try a bucket or bowl of water and squirt a spray of your Pyola into it and then thump the bugs into it. I'd think that would work just as well.
You could always just use a drop of soap in the water too. Anything to keep them in the water will drown them.
Guess I will give it a try. I was out there yesterday and there are some still around. YUCK!
