Large Milkweed Bugs
Oncopeltus fasciatus
This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:
Daphne, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Vincent, Alabama
Deer, Arkansas
Harrison, Arkansas
Marion, Arkansas
Fremont, California
Huntington Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Redondo Beach, California
Boca Raton, Florida
Brooksville, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jupiter, Florida
Lake Worth, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Longboat Key, Florida
Lutz, Florida
Melbourne, Florida
Merritt Island, Florida
New Port Richey, Florida
North Fort Myers, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Palm Bay, Florida
Palm Harbor, Florida
Pensacola, Florida
Pompano Beach, Florida(2 reports)
Port Orange, Florida
Saint Cloud, Florida
Saint James City, Florida
Saint Petersburg, Florida(3 reports)
Sarasota, Florida
Satellite Beach, Florida
Sumterville, Florida
Venice, Florida
Winter Springs, Florida
Clarkesville, Georgia
Lula, Georgia
Marietta, Georgia
Oak Park, Illinois
Palatine, Illinois
Plainfield, Illinois
Davenport, Iowa
Wichita, Kansas
Hebron, Kentucky
Salvisa, Kentucky
Abbeville, Louisiana
Covington, Louisiana
Hammond, Louisiana
Kaplan, Louisiana
Merryville, Louisiana
Scott, Louisiana
Thibodaux, Louisiana
Millersville, Maryland
Dearborn Heights, Michigan
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Jackson, Missouri
Marshfield, Missouri
Beatrice, Nebraska
Jamesburg, New Jersey
Himrod, New York
Seaford, New York
Charlotte, North Carolina
Ellerbe, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Cincinnati, Ohio(3 reports)
Corning, Ohio
Defiance, Ohio
Galion, Ohio
Sheffield Lake, Ohio
Harrah, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Bushkill, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania(2 reports)
Waynesboro, Pennsylvania
Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Yankton, South Dakota
Memphis, Tennessee
Smyrna, Tennessee
Soddy Daisy, Tennessee
Cedar Park, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Helotes, Texas
Houston, Texas
Mesquite, Texas
New Caney, Texas
Pipe Creek, Texas
Richmond, Texas
San Antonio, Texas(2 reports)
Santa Fe, Texas
Spring, Texas
Mc Lean, Virginia
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
show all
12native34
EyeGarden
"We have had no further infestations of Milkweed Bugs since we started plucking the seed pods from the Butterfly Weed as soon as they appear. This has no adverse effect on the plant. In fact, it seems to promote a weak second flowering. We have no use for the seeds, and this also prevents their silky floss from blowing all over the yard."
Here is the link to the blog: http://markcz.com/milkweed-bug-infestation/
I'm going to give this a try and hope I will remember to report back.
jimbarlow89
fulxmom
gardengirlgeek
I don't know whether to be concerned b/c I don't know whether they serve some beneficial function or will ultimately destroy all the milkweed/butterfly weed plants, or harm other plants. So far they're just congregating on all the pods. I haven't tried to destroy them but it would probably be relatively easy, since they're all clustered. Does anyone know what the best course is?
And BTW, hello All, I'm new to this site and it looks like a really great resource.
Donut1106
happy_girl
Earlier this summer, we noticed adult beetles on the mandevilla vine - saw some mating going on. Two weeks ago, we saw a large cluster of red/orange babies on the mandevilla seed pods. We cut off the seed pods and forgot about it. Today, we saw another large cluster of babies on another seed pod.
Since we don't have milkweed, we're assuming these milkweed bugs also go far soft vines?
Does anyone know what kind of damage these bugs can cause (if any)? Also, what is the recommendation for removing them?
I've rated them 'neutral' as I don't know w... read more
iamkaym
I find milkweed to be a weedy-looking plant most of its life but they are important to the Monarch. I keep my milkweed against a sunny wall in an area that is used mainly as a walkway. Masses of penta in other parts of the garden give me a view of butterflies from the back porch.
LindaTX8
Silly_Sane
Lonne99
sallyg
If you want to open the pods and get nice seeds with lots of fluff , you may want to keep the bugs off; they seem to spoil them- see Magpye's comment about feeding on the seeds.
butterhum
Magpye
This North American native ranges from Massachusetts to Florida in the East, westward to Texas, the Rocky Mountains, and California, and southward to Texas and Brazil.
The aposomatically colored bugs warn potential predators that they are unpalatable. In the process of feeding of milkweed seeds they sequester toxins from the host plant.
Females lay eggs in crevices between milkweed pods, producing as many as 2000 each. Individuals develop from egg to adult in about one month at 85ºF... read more
Vee8ch
They eat the seeds and tissue of the milkweed plant (Asclepias curassavica.)
Milkweed bugs have few predators because they concentrate in their bodies bad tasting compounds found in the sap of milkweed plants.
Milkweed bugs often gather in groups on the milkweed plant. This gregarious behavior probably enhances their warning coloration.