Aphid on milkweed. I can't spray them.

Joined
May 15, 2016
Messages
847
Reaction score
360
Location
Miami, FL
Hardiness Zone
10b
Country
United States
IMG_2825.JPG


Do you see it? I have some whiteflies and aphids on the milkweed. Should I just leave them be?
 

JBtheExplorer

Native Gardener
Joined
Jun 13, 2014
Messages
1,412
Reaction score
3,201
Location
Wisconsin
Showcase(s):
1
Hardiness Zone
5b
Country
United States
I've read to just spray them with water with enough force that they fall off and they won't be able to crawl back on. I've never done anything with them, but I've heard if the infestation is bad enough, Monarch butterflies will avoid those plants when laying eggs. Oleander aphids are almost a guarantee with milkweed.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2016
Messages
1,803
Reaction score
2,058
Location
Colima, Mexico
Hardiness Zone
USDA Zone 11
Country
Mexico
hand squish the aphid or you will get more. it also looks like one of the buds has an egg on it.
 
Joined
Feb 2, 2014
Messages
11,597
Reaction score
5,677
Location
La Porte Texas
Hardiness Zone
8b
Country
United States
Use a forcefull stream of water on them. It might take 2 or 3 times but it will work. And it won't hurt anyone else who might be living there.
 
Joined
Feb 1, 2015
Messages
721
Reaction score
570
Location
Long Island, NY
Hardiness Zone
7a
Country
United States
If they get too bad I just throw on a vinyl exam glove and squish away. I have excellent water pressure, and yet have never been able to remove them by spraying water at them. Sticky little critters!
 
Joined
May 15, 2016
Messages
847
Reaction score
360
Location
Miami, FL
Hardiness Zone
10b
Country
United States
Won't ladybugs eat the caterpillar eggs?

I have a small update. I checked on a lower leaf, and it was infested with those aphids. I killed them all by hand. I ordered ladybugs online. Can I release them near the milkweed? Will they harm the live caterpillars
 
Joined
Feb 1, 2015
Messages
721
Reaction score
570
Location
Long Island, NY
Hardiness Zone
7a
Country
United States
Won't ladybugs eat the caterpillar eggs?

I have a small update. I checked on a lower leaf, and it was infested with those aphids. I killed them all by hand. I ordered ladybugs online. Can I release them near the milkweed? Will they harm the live caterpillars
Yes you can release them right onto the milkweed, and no they will not harm the cats. Just a word of caution. When you do release the ladybugs, make you do it at night. or many if not all will fly away.
 
Joined
Mar 28, 2015
Messages
5,277
Reaction score
4,459
Location
Southern Chester County, PA, USA
Hardiness Zone
4 to 5 best for success.
Country
United States
speaking of this plant. my recent garden mag. featured the Cinderella swamp milkweed variety. so pretty. anyway, it reads that there are 140 species of milkweed. looking forward to reading up on all of them. we still have a garden area that needs more stuff planted, down in the valley, which is about 100 paces from our back door. As we lean toward plants that help mother nature this will be a great choice. the Cinderella only goes 3 foot wide and 4 foot tall, would want a larger variety.
 
Joined
Feb 1, 2015
Messages
721
Reaction score
570
Location
Long Island, NY
Hardiness Zone
7a
Country
United States
speaking of this plant. my recent garden mag. featured the Cinderella swamp milkweed variety. so pretty. anyway, it reads that there are 140 species of milkweed. looking forward to reading up on all of them. we still have a garden area that needs more stuff planted, down in the valley, which is about 100 paces from our back door. As we lean toward plants that help mother nature this will be a great choice. the Cinderella only goes 3 foot wide and 4 foot tall, would want a larger variety.
Here's a great site on milkweeds. If you are looking for native milkweeds local to your area, click on 'Locate milkweed' , then click on the state you live in.
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Members online

No members online now.

Forum statistics

Threads
27,983
Messages
265,518
Members
14,713
Latest member
infopacificwestinjury

Latest Threads

Top