What's eating my butterfly weed?

Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a monarch host plant — monarch and queen caterpillars intentionally defoliate it. Aphids (the bright yellow oleander aphid) are the most damaging year-round pest. Deer and rabbits rarely eat it due to its milky sap. Tolerate caterpillars — they are the whole ecological point of growing it.

Dense golden-yellow colonies on stems and flower buds; honeydew, sooty mold; stunted flower heads Blast off with water; apply insecticidal soap (avoid when monarch caterpillars are present); encourage parasitic wasps

Rapid, complete defoliation of stems — plants can be stripped bare within days during peak flight Do not control: this is the intended wildlife value. Plants regrow vigorously. Plant multiples to absorb caterpillar load

Red-and-black bugs pierce seed pods to feed on developing seeds; seed viability reduced Hand-pick adults and egg clusters; populations are self-limiting in most gardens and rarely warrant treatment