Aphids on Milkweed Plants

Milkweed is the host plant for monarch butterflies. The aphids you see on milkweed plants do not harm the monarch caterpillars. LSU AgCenter horticulture agent Anna Timmerman discusses the aphids. This video was produced by Anna Ribbeck, LSU AgCenter social media strategist.

[@youdabuddha7468]

Very useful info - I was worried for nothing! thank you all

[@leeflippin5531]

Thank you for this valuable information! I don’t pay much attention to small aphid infestations but here on California central coast my modest-sized tropical milkweed beds do sometimes suffer from such high aphid infestation rates that they seem to harm some of the plants. When I just can’t take it anymore, I’ve found that a cheap, high-speed cordless toothbrush is very convenient for removing the little vampires. Finger-squishing works, but is messy. Never had any luck trying to wash them off with water. Even tried a computer keyboard vacuum cleaner for awhile but found that the aphids are not very easily sucked off of the plants. Under a microscope it is easy to see why…besides having a barbed snout for drilling into the plants those little bugs basically have claws instead of feet. They are much better at holding fast than walking about. A stiff-bristled glue brush works okay for knocking them loose, but there’s something special about the electric toothbrush…at 37,000 vibrations per minute the thing sounds like a dentist’s drill and just the lightest, slightest contact is sufficient to rapidly disrupt those miserable colonies of A. nerii.

[@bizarroworld3974]

This is such great info! I was concerned because I have some on both my milkweed and oleander bush.

[@CozyJenn]

Thank you a lot! A lot of worrying for nothing!

[@PBarrPrince]

You perfectly answered my question. Thank you.

[@jasminecolbert3288]

This was so helpful. Thank you!

[@kindradeleon9053]

Great video thank you for the knowledge 😊

[@sherrimello9579]

This was very helpful to me I like this you tube video alot I have a milkweed plant and I love all My plants

[@alanawinner]

Thank you. I looked up the aphids on my milkweed and many sites did say that had to be washed off with soapy water or killed by dabbing alcohol on them. I wonder if these aphids are one of the types that ladybugs eat? I looked it up on a reliable site and ladybugs do eat these types of aphids.

[@LeoRousseau]

Thanks for the video! Just like everyone else here, you put my mind at ease and I will sleep well tonight! 😜🐛

[@chacha79070]

Thank you so much for this video ❤❤❤
Do you know what the red fungus on milkweed leaves is , and how to treat it?

[@jackday420]

But the aphids produce an unsightly and sticky excrement that layers on the leaves. There are ways to eliminate the aphids, without harming the butterfly or caterpillar.

[@matthewbuckner4000]

Just transplanted 2 butterfly weeds, got em. 💚🙏💚 Gonna start more and regular milkweed.

[@deetmar7esp]

I have four butterfly gardens wiped out by Oleander aphids. Please be aware!

[@ericstandefer9138]

The problem with the aphids is with an infestation they star causing this nasty sticky substance all around where they are and the leaves start looking really bad. Also, there seems to be a connection between ants and aphids. Every time I get aphids I see tons of ants going up the stalk to them, and I imagine ants would easily devour the small caterpillars. Am I wrong on that? I find if i just have a spray bottle and squirt the and knock them off and do that whenever i see them it seems to keep them away.

[@cecilianena6648]

I've seen in one video that ants help aphids travel and protect them.they in turn supply ants with a sugary substancr they produce

[@kater8730]

My milkweed plants were covered and I mean covered with them. I cut back the stems and disposed of them. Do they like Rose bushes? I don't want them on my roses.

[@MrBritrider]

I wish!
We have been trying to grow Swamp milkweed for three years now. The plants that survive the aphid onslaught will do well in early spring and summer season but by late summer they are all overwelmed by what appears to be millions of these orange devils that are sucking the life out of the plants.. We just don’t have many aphid predators in our garden to take care of business. By late summer, our plants have either lost all their leaves or all have yellowed and have yet been able to thrive. We have a lot of pollinators in our yard that attracts other butterfly’s but we can’t help the poor Monarch
because we can’t provide them what they need.
I’ve heard that a soapy spray might help.
Any other good effective natural remedies?

[@gstrek1]

Thanks for this video. I was wondering what to do with all the aphids. I live in the Dallas area. Do you have any information on pruning the oleander butterfly weed? And instructions on what to do with it during the winter. Right now, ours is looking pretty sad after this last cold snap. Thank you.

[@MickeyGrassi]

👍

[@AR-cw4he]

I noticed no one here got there answers 🥺

[@denisef1153]

People put up information and don’t answer questions. Probably because they don’t know the answer. All I know from others is lady bugs help. I’ve been seeing lady bugs a lot (S FLorida). First time in 10 years.

[@L-Destroyer]

Oleander aphids are so bad here in my CA garden they end up killing the milkweed :( Even after smashing them and trying to get rid of them for years.

[@daycreek]

Same here. They are extremely bad here this year and left the plants go as this video suggests. I'd like them to stop by and see our mess. Maybe they would think twice about suggesting to do nothing.

[@johnmurdoch8534]

What about destroying the plant! My milkweeds are covered in these and it ultimately undermines them. I bought lpads of ladybugs and keep putting every ladybug larvae/dronefly maggot i see on these but the aphids dont seem any worse for the wear.