Katie
The silkweed is another common name for milkweed...the seeds inside the pods have silky fuzz that carry the seeds in the wind off to find a spot to grow. We would all have to use scientific names to get around all the common names there are for plants. The scientific names are Latin and universal around the globe. The scientific genus name for the various milkweed, silkweed, and butterfly weeds is Asclepias.
Found several of these on my milkweed pods this week, also. They move to the other side of the stem/pod if they see your shadow hovering over them.
Glad we could help!
New bug to my eyes and new weed by: Katie
I have found this, new to my eyes, bugs on the silk weed pods. At least that is what one of my friends said the vine is as I didn't plant it here in my yard I did not know the name of the bug or the weed. Thanks for your info.
Thanks again Moni! by: Carol
That's good news.
Milkweed bugs by: Moni
That's right they will not do permanent damage, especially at this time of year. If they were there when it starts to flower they could damage the flower head. But you will not loose the plants from the little feeding they do.
thanks for the information by: Carol
Thanks Moni. After your identification, I did some reading on these little critters and they seem to be pretty harmless. Since the plants die back each winter, am I right in assuming they will do no permanent damage? They are really pretty cool looking!
Milkweed bug nymphs by: Moni
Carol
You have milkweed bug nymphs (youngsters) on your butterfly weed(which is in the milkweed family). They feed by sucking juices out of the plant and since milkweed is not of 'economic' value they are not considered a pest. Because this is a nymph it is not easy to know if it is a small or large milkweed bug. It does also resemble the boxelder bug nymph, but since it is feeding milkweed we know it is the milkweed bug. The adults are also reddish orange and black and are very striking in color.
Only special insects can feed on milkweed as the plant contains toxins. These toxins give any insect that feeds on this plant protection from predators. Other insects that might feed on butterfly weed would be monarch caterpillars or milkweed tiger moth caterpillars.
Thanks for the great photo!
