So something is eating your milkweed plant and it's not a Caterpillar?

FIRST OF ALL Important Note:

Don’t use insecticides or pesticides on milkweed, they can kill monarch eggs, caterpillars, or pollinators!

Common Pests That Damage Milkweed:

1. Aphids (especially Oleander Aphids)

• Tiny yellow/orange insects with black legs

• Suck the sap from stems and leaves, weakening the plant

• Often found in big clusters on new growth

• Solution: Spray with water, introduce ladybugs, or wipe off gently

  • STORY TIME: I had to spray with water, wipe off gently + buy ladybugs to help eat the Aphids!

  • See my instagram for my post on the ladybugs I bought:)

    
    

2. Milkweed Beetles (Tetraopes spp.)

• Red with black spots, long antennae

• Chew on leaves and stems

• Not usually a huge problem unless there’s a large infestation

  
  

3. Milkweed Bugs (Large and Small Milkweed Bugs)

• Orange/red with black markings

• Feed on seeds and seed pods, not leaves — so less damaging to caterpillars but can reduce future plant growth

• Solution: Hand-pick or remove seed pods if needed

  
  

4. Spider Mites

• Super tiny, hard to see without magnification

• Cause stippling (tiny yellow dots) and leaf curling

• Thrive in hot, dry weather

• Solution: Hose them off, increase humidity, or use insecticidal soap

  
  

5. Slugs & Snails

• Feed on tender young leaves or seedlings

  • Solution: Use crushed eggshells or copper tape as a barrier

  • STORY TIME: This is also something we did, we crushed up some eggshells- Rinse your eggshells well– Remove any egg residue to prevent attracting unwanted pests or odors.

  • Let them dry completely– Air-dry or bake them for a few minutes at low heat (optional, but helps make them brittle).

  • Crush the eggshells finely– Use your hands, a rolling pin, or a food processor to break them into small, sharp bits — not powder, but not big chunks either.

  • Sprinkle a ring around your milkweed– Create a barrier circle around the base of each plant.– Slugs and snails hate crawling over the sharp, jagged surface.

  • Reapply as needed– After heavy rain or watering, refresh the ring to keep it effective.

    
    

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