Bug Found on our Milkweed
Sun, May 24, 2009 at 8:32 AM
Found this bug on our milkweed plants. We had Monarch eggs and caterpillars but now there are none. Is this a bug we should suspect has hurt our Monarch eggs and caterpillars? What is this bug?
Ira in Texas
San Antonio, Texas
Dear Ira,
This is the larva of a Ladybird Beetle or Lady Bug. The presence of this larva indicates that there are probably Aphids on your milkweed. The Ladybird Larva will eat Aphids, but it will not bother the Monarch Caterpillars. You must have another culprit.