What's eating my swamp milkweed?

Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) hosts monarch caterpillars and is also heavily colonized by bright yellow oleander aphids. Milkweed beetles and seed bugs feed on stems and pods. Because this species is a critical pollinator plant, avoid broad-spectrum insecticides — target aphids with soap spray only when caterpillars are absent.

Thick yellow clusters on new shoots and stem tips; honeydew drip; sooty mold on leaves below colonies Knock off with a strong water stream; apply insecticidal soap sprays only when monarch larvae are not present

Leaves and stems eaten down to stubs; frass pellets visible; whole stalks can be stripped in 24–48 hours No control needed or recommended — this is the plant's primary ecological function. Plant in groups of 3+ to buffer loss

Red beetles girdle stems near the base to reduce sap flow before feeding; larvae bore into roots over winter Hand-remove adults; beetle populations in healthy garden settings rarely cause plant death and can be tolerated