It won't kill the plant, but it might ruin any seed pods. It might also prevent a Monarch from laying eggs on the plant, though that is just a guess.

Marth

The beetles don't bug the seed pods. That is the job of the milkweed bugs.

Oops. I guess I mixed them up. Neither of them have caused much trouble for my plants, but I haven't had big numbers.

Martha

Lol kc...aphids are really piling up on my tropical milkweed,and I

Don't know what to do so I have done nothing.Since I only provide

The plants mainly for nectaring(hummingbirds too)maybe it is ok to

Do nothing?

BTW that's a beautiful little red beetle.

DD

They make cool clicking (almost screeching noise) if you hold them. Wear gloves though--they do give a little pinch. I had a few too many this year and some of my plants had no blooms. Sometimes I move them to a Common MW I keep for such purposes.

--Bernergrrl from the old GW days

I pull the leaf off with aphids on them and stomp stomp stomp! (Squish squish)!