Insect--Friend or Foe?

[donnap27]

i have lots of these now on my swamp milkweed, predominantly on the seed heads. i don't know if i should destroy them or let them be? Anyone know?
trying to attach photo ... if there is no photo, i need help
FAQ says i cannot link to my Mac, so set up photo in Photobucket ..... not sure how do i get it here ?
let's see if this works ....
[url]<a href="http://s765.photobucket.com/albums/xx297/donnap27/Monarchs/?action=view&current=P1080089.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i765.photobucket.com/albums/xx297/donnap27/Monarchs/P1080089.jpg" border="0" alt="Friend or Foe ?"></a>[/url]

[alletahg]

I can't get your link to work. Can you describe what the bugs look like? We often see these black and red beetles on the milkweed called (appropriately enough) milkweed beetles. I don't know if they are harmful to either the milkweed or the monarch eggs/larva.

[donnap27]

yes, i've looked up Milkweed Beetle on line .. that is what they are ...
from what i've read they only feed on the milkweed plant ... sooooooooo, that would infer that that they are not predators.
Confirmation anyone?
and ....i'd still like to know how to attach a photo if anyone has knowledge of that mystery, i'd appreciate it.
thanks, Donna

[David Calhoun]

They are in the "seedeater" group of bugs, and destroy milkweed seeds.While they don't actually prey on monarchs, they are unwelcome in my garden and I send them to a better place.

[donnap27]

ah-ha ... that bucket of soapy water ... that's where mine went last night
although, i suppose if you have lots of milkweed and don't want anymore sprouting in your garden, they are a welcome guest. depends upon your point of view.
thank you for the information
Donna

[ilsa]

Looks like milkweed assassin bug to me. They eat the seeds in the pods.

Yours look to be still in the nymph stage: http://www.uky.edu/Ag/CritterFiles/case ... .htm#cycle

[Mona Miller]

I squish every little to big one. I'm saving seeds for Monarch Watch.

http://bugguide.net/node/view/504
Oncopeltus fasciatus - Large Milkweed Bug

[donnap27]

thank you ...
that's them .... i have lots of then in all sizes / stages

[Mona Miller]

A quick death for them and Japanese beetles is to take a gallon milk jug. On the side opposite of the handle (leave it on), cut a circle about three inches wide. Put that up high so that it will hold soapy water. Then all you have to do is put the opening under the bugs and knock them in. They will fall when you try to squish them any.

[donnap27]

and that's exactly what i did last night ...
great minds think alike

[windrider]

I don't know.

Every July I get inundated with the beetle and I think they're a beautiful creature, and I'm sure they exist for a reason. My milkweed patch grew from two plants I planted back several years ago because I couldn't find milkweed around my neighborhood and now I have to fight to keep the milkweed at bay (IE: out of the yard of the neighbor who is NOT happy that I let some damn weed grow profusely).

The presence of these beetles hasn't crimped my milkweed growth, so while it's damaging can we be certain it's detrimental? Moreso than lawnmowers and herbicides?

[Mona Miller]

They eat the milkweed seeds. I need to save the milkweed seeds. There's way too many of them.

But, it is a personal decision.

[windrider]

Despite my no-touch attitude, I still get loads of seeds. If you left them alone how many seeds would you get vs the number they eat? Not enough to grow more?

[Mona Miller]

You can't tell that they have eaten the seeds until you find they do not germinate.