Spare the aphid, save the monarch

[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hat happens when one rids butterfly weed of aphids? Carol Clark, a Monarch Watch Conservation Specialist, explained to me the problem. If you use a hose with a stream of water to wash away aphids “naturally”, you will wash away any Monarch eggs already on the plant. If you use a soap based spray, the soap will kill any Monarch caterpillars. It’s risky.

Carol advised, “The aphids will get eaten and controlled by other critters shortly if you leave them there. Syrphid flies, Lacewings and Ladybugs will come on their own.”

Carol worked the Monarch Watch booth at the recent Pollinator PowWow in Nacogdoches.