My milkweed plants have become a regular party site for a host of insects that I had never expected. I always assumed that since milkweed is toxic to most insects that it would remain pristine, free of anything but my intended monarch larvae. I was so wrong.
Aphids, of course, are like little annoying minions taking up space on the plant stems and occasionally on the leaves. They hang out in huge clusters. I don’t know how much harm they do, but I suspect they leave a shiny film on the plant leaves that just looks slippery and unappealing. I leave them alone mostly. I’ve tried blasting the plants with a hose to physically remove them. It helps somewhat.
Another insect I see often is the milkweed beetle. Today, in particular, they are having a great time mating. Why they have all chosen today I can’t explain.
Today I found two larvae on the milkweed, one of which I know, and the other I don’t. First, the Dusky-winged hover fly has appeared again. It’s not the prettiest. A few weeks ago I had mistaken it for excrement, but I know that some swallowtail butterflies have ugly larvae akin to bird poop. Swallowtails do not lay eggs on milkweed though. So I consulted others on iNaturalist. The knowledgeable folks there said it was a syrphid of some sort, and most agreed on the dusky-winged hover fly. I put the plant in my butterfly tent and a few days later, poof, larvae was gone a pretty fly showed up. Question answered.
Today, though, I found another larvae and it’s quite stunning. I believe its a Four-speckled hover fly.I’ll bring it into the tent and see what comes of it.
Buzzing Blossoms 