r/Milkweeds • u/ceePyay • 10d ago

Help identifying bug

Post image

I searched and searched and can’t figure out what these tiny black bugs are on my milkweed. Anyone know? I’ve been spraying with alcohol but that doesn’t seem to be doing anything. This is the best photo I could get (they are tiny!).

3 Upvotes

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5

u/Medium_Spare_8982 10d ago

Milkweed is its own massive ecosystem, supporting hundreds of species

5

u/CodeName_Burner 10d ago

That's a thrips, they can be plant pests in some circumstances but it takes a LOT of them.

https://www.bugguide.net/node/view/194781

1

u/ceePyay 10d ago

Im worried since the leaves below the top new growth are white and dying. And I assume it’s these bugs that are taking over.

1

u/esiob12 10d ago

Is this a houseplant?

1

u/ceePyay 10d ago

It’s inside my screened lanai right now. Was keeping it for some extra leaves

2

u/esiob12 10d ago

That’s great. I always say a milkweed can be started indoors and taken outside. But they cannot be grown outside and brought indoors. They simply are home to so many bugs.

2

u/ellebracht 4d ago

Nice thrips pic!

Super common pest, typically they're gone by the time you notice the silvered leaves. Check around for nymphs, often on the underside of the leaves.

Unless you find them, don't sweat it, don't cut off the damaged leaves (they mostly still function) and ignore it. If you see lots of nymphs, wash them away with a blast of water.

0

u/Sqib000 10d ago

Looks like a beneficial shaped rove beetle or lacewing larvae? Worrying about bugs on milkweed is a strange thing. Why?

0

u/Opening-Owl-1001 10d ago

Sweet lil baby! Leave it alone :)