Large Milkweed Bugs having fun

Oncopeltus fasciatus on Tropical Milkweed

36 points · 4 comments · view on lemmy.world

4 Comments

Fourth@mander.xyz · 2 pts · 1d (3 replies)

Depending on where you're located, I would seriously reconsider cultivating that plant. For the sake of the monarchs.

BuckFutter@timeyak.com · 4 pts · 1d (2 replies)

Thanks. Yah I am in the southeast states, zone 9a, and it dies off every year. I’ve heard about the issues growing tropical milkweed relating to monarchs. I’ve tried cultivating/growing from seed other species of milkweed as well but they just cant handle the heat like the tropical does.

Fourth@mander.xyz · 3 pts · 1d (1 reply)

Totally fair, but still does contribute to OE and some other struggles that those poor beautiful insects really could do without.

I applaud your orientation towards native planting.

https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/native-milkweeds/

Straight from University of Florida, I trust this guide and know that incarnata and tuberosa are highly adaptable. Would be fun to include some of those other less common species too.

BuckFutter@timeyak.com · 2 pts · 21h

Thanks and I love the IFAS documentation. So much wonderful information there and I reference it quite a bit. I usually have the tropical milkweed mixed in with Sweetscent (Pluchea odorata) and that attracts a variety of native bees and butterflies as well. I'll have to give those other milkweed species a try again...Thanks.

Pluchea odorata