aufin,

Depending upon the quantity of Aphids, you can flick 'em off with your fingers, a paintbrush, or even blow them off with a big puff of air. If they are close to the eggs, then why not take the egg off of the leaf? That's what I do. After I go and harvest all the eggs in the garden (currently, I am only finding Queen, aka Danaus gilippus eggs) I take the garden hose and 'wash' the Milkweed. I was gone for a week so the Aphids had a good opportunity to reproduce themselves and boy, it is sure a pain to get rid of them all! I do have an amazing number of Ladybug/beetles this year reproducing all on their own. I know that they will eat the butterfly eggs if I don't get to them first. They are great at eating the Aphids but there are just SO many of the nasty little yellow buggers right now...

Good luck! I can totally empathize...

aufin, I think you should refine your own special 'squish' technique, if you aren't prepared for the whole butterfly raising experience. (I don't raise butterflies, just so you know.) I've found that aphid populations are relatively easy to manage with simple hand removal.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

Nope, no problem sending them on their way a bit flatter. Just wanted a little input as to whether there is a homemade solution such as the water/green liquid soap recipe. Wasn't sure if it would hurt the eggs and/or the cats.

I have used something similiar to what you mentioned. Mix 3tbsp of the Kirk's Castile Soap ( I shred mine on a grater)in a gallon of hot water. Let sit for a few days so that the soap dissolves. Then I pour some in a bowl and go around dipping the leaves that have the aphids and milkweed bugs in the solution. Certainly does work on the milkweed bugs. Helps with the aphids. I don't like squishing them so other than the soap, I leave them alone. I have been told it won't hurt the eggs. I move any cats off the plant before hand. Maybe worth a try. I got my soap at Publix.

You can just spray them with a strong spray of water. I do this and use my fingers while spraying to remove them. Right now, the ladybugs are helping out. I have ladybug cocoons and adult ladybugs all over one of my asclepias incarnata plants, and they are devouring the aphids at a very fast rate.

Susan

I have the same problem. I haven't gotten around to going through the milkweed patch until this week and see that my one A. incarnata is just loaded with aphids! :-O I have 100 plants in there and now I'm afraid that a lot of my time is going to be spent squishing aphids. I HATE those things! We have ladybugs in our house practically year round, but now that I have aphids for them to eat, I don't see any around here!
Cathy

The time it takes to 'wash' the Milkweed is incredible BUT is well worth it. I've been diligent at washing my garden (sounds odd, doesn't it?) this week (can't believe how quickly those Aphids reproduce in a week!) but the numbers are now down, thank goodness, to a manageable level. The Ladybugs are such a big help and even with hosing down the Aphids, the Ladybugs aren't at all bothered by the water-spray. They seem to just hold on tightly as the water goes around.

I haven't made up an Aphid/MW bug spray but have made my own 'Spider/Ant' Spray. It kills both within a few seconds, is biodegradable, and inexpensive to boot.