Kill Aphids- Save Monarchs

6 years ago

How do you get rid of the aphids on your milkweed without harming any monarch eggs or caterpillars?

I’ve searched the Internet and it seems like the only answer is to remove any monarch eggs and caterpillars and then treat the milkweed with soap spray and a sharp blast of water from the hose.

I’m willing to do that but Im not seeing any eggs and one or two new teeny tiny little caterpillars keep showing up everyday so I know they are there.

I know the aphids aren’t really a threat to the monarchs so I was trying to wait it out. You know- I was going with the old “wait until I can grab the caterpillars off the plant safely” method. Unfortunately those crazy aphids multiplied like I’ve never seen before and it’s gotten to the point where they look like they can do some real damage to the milkweed. Gross- I know!

So I’ve come to you for answers- my genius GardenWeb Community!! For there is nobody on the World Wide Web I trust more with my precious monarch babies, and nobody who gives better advice!!

And GO!!!!

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Comments (7)

porkchop_z5b_MI
6 years ago
Are those aphids or milkweed bug nymphs? Milkweed bugs unfortunately come with the territory. They don't get really bad for me until sometime in August but they can get really bad. Do a board search about it -- a thread I started in a prior year garnered some good suggestions. I tend to sit on my hands about them, though -- I don't want to harm the eggs or caterpillars -- one of those situations I just have to grin and bear.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_milkweed_bug
deanna in ME Barely zone 6a, more like 5b
6 years ago
When it comes to milkweed I leave the aphids be. My milkweed is surrounded by echinaceas that are unbothered by the aphids. I might be more concerned if they were going to spread to other plants. If aphids cover the plants, I let them remain as food for other things that eat aphids, which eventually show up. I'd rather let aphids exist than damage caterpillars. I've had milkweed covered by aphids and damage doesn't happen. So far, my swamp milkweed handles it all without struggle each year. Some years are worse than others.
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Nevermore44 - 6a
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
usually the caterpillars avoid the infested areas with those oleander aphids. What I do is just squish the aphids right on the plants .... I don’t pull them off or anything.... leave their guts and bodies where you squish them. It’s seems to act as a deterrent for them And they go elsewhere. I even try to spread some of the aphid goo to the other growth points. It works for my swamp milkweed.

for isolated areas with no monarchs or plants that don’t get monarchs I’ll spray pure rubbing alcohol which works well.
Chrissy- zone6B/7A
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks everyone!
M. Wilson
6 years ago
Ladybugs?
PRO
The Plant Lady : Native Landscape Design
6 years ago
Those are oleander aphids, with love all milkweed species. They don’t harm the plants or the Monarchs and will bring in many ladybugs. The only negative effect is that the plant is a bit unsightly, but it’s how it should naturally be in order to be beneficial to many different species rather than just Monarchs. I have raised Monarchs for 25 years and have 4 different Milkweed species on my property. They all have the oleander aphids and they all do well and have plenty of Monarch eggs and caterpillars.
Nevermore44 - 6a
6 years ago
Very true ... though i find that Lady bugs never keep them in full check on swamp milkweed when they get going. Left completely to their own devices I end up with no or very sparse blooms on the entire plant since they congregate at the growth points. So if I want blooms I have to set them back a bit.