Since the Milkweed Bug is considered a beneficial, they help contol what some people consider a noxious weed, there is nothing recommended to control them. Anything you could use would also kill the Monarch Butterfly larva that also feed on this plant.

Well I definitely don't want to do anything to harm the monarchs. They are the highlight of my summer.

Any idea why they're out front messing around in an unplanted impatiens bed?

Should I perhaps plant a butterfly weed or two in a front flower bed (not this one...too much shade, but I have another bed near the house) as kind of "trap" plants? They could enjoy those and maybe they'd leave the ones out back alone.

Do the milkweed bugs and monarchs live in harmony?

I seldom see a Milkweed Bug on the same plant as a Monarch larva so may be they do. None of the information I have seen about the Milkweed Bug mentions the Monarch butterfly and vice versa.

I think we need some improved ID, here. There are several true bugs that resemble what is commonly called the Milkweed Bug.

The Milkweed Bug is a seed eater (not beneficial). It is typically found on the flowers and seed of milkweed plants.

I wonder if our poster has been observing the dreaded Boxelder Bug? VERY common in large numbers. There are some other candidates, as well.

I should have added: you really don't need to worry about your boxelder bug explosion. They do little damage to your maple and don't really mess with anything else.

P.S. Boxelders are commonly mistaken for Milkweed Bugs.

Everything I have says the Milkweed Bug eats both the seeds and plant tissue and because they eat the plant tissue they develop the toxins the Milkweed sap has and therefore are unpalatable to insect eaters. There can be 5 generations of Milkweed Bugs each year, I'd not be sure they could do that if they only ate the seeds.

Here is a link that might be useful: Milkweed Bugs

Rhizo, I am thinking these may be boxelders after all! (Many thanks for bringing up this issue! I would have never known.)

The only reason I said they were milkweed bugs was because my uncle was over and I asked if he knew what they were. He called them "bricks" and when I googled that, milkweed bug came up on about page five. LOL. And certainly they looked like them, but I did notice the stripes were a tiny bit different.

So I just got some pictures of them, and now I believe they're boxelders. What do you think? (Sorry for the blur, m y camera doesn't take closeups so well!)

{{gwi:139139}}

And if boxelders, just let them be?

Okay, was just googling on these guys. It sounds like I should consider myself lucky they haven't found their way into the house. I had seen some crawling outside on windows a few weeks ago, thought "What bugs are those?" and then forgot about them until I found the orgy in the little ring bed around the tree. (Which I've decided to stop....it's a mess of roots now, thanks to my application last fall of bunny poo)

They're actually very pretty bugs, but so sexed up. I'm guessing this is the first time I've really seen bugs mating.

For anyone who searches and finds this thread, here's a paragraph of interest on boxelders (from an extermination company):

The bugs themselves are absolutely harmless - very laid-back little fellows, they'll let you handle them, they're not dirty or anything and they won't sting you or eat anything inside your house. The more you have, however, the more you'll notice that the bugs will "spot." A nice word for you-know-what. It is also quite difficult to remove the spots after a few hours.

Hey, julianna...once I carefully read your post, there was no doubt in my mind that you have boxelder bugs. They hatched on your maple!

The milkweed bugs are the enemies of gardeners, most ESPECIALLY those who plant for butterflies. There are many species of Asclepias (milkweed) that are wonderful garden and landscape additions, and these critters are persona non grata!

Thanks Rhizo and Kimmsr. I'm relieved they're boxelders. Those sound a lot less ominous than the milkweed bugs, esp. since I do grow milkweeds. I've got three types growing under lights right now (from Onalee's....I'm excited to try the new kinds).

I haven't checked on the bugs today to see if they're still out there partying.