Yellow bugs on milkweed

[biwa]

My milkweed is covered in little tiny almost-spherical yellow things about 1 to 1.5 mm in diameter. They have black legs that were too small for the camera to see. I think they might be fly larva, because I saw a similar looking bug nearby with wings. The bug in the picture is a completely featureless yellow thing except for the legs, which look like black cactus needles. I say they're bugs, but only because they move. They don't really look like bugs to me.

Anybody know what these are? Are they damaging the plants?

[Newt]

You've got some lovely yellow aphids. I don't spray and find the ladybug larvae take care of them for me. The larvae look like they would be a bad bug, but alas they eat the aphids.
http://www.rei.org/images/llarva.jpg

Newt

[biwa]

I did see something that looks kinda like that ladybug larva photo hanging out with the yellow bugs. Hopefully he'll eat them all. So far the aphids seem to be multiplying faster than they're getting eaten.

[Kisal]

I just hose them off with water. It's amazingly effective!

[JJinKS]

I have yellow aphids too, and I would wash them off but I have so many caterpillars and I am afraid I will drown them in the process. I would love to let some ladybug larvae have a feast--but I don't know where to get them. I bought ladybugs on the internet once, but when I released them they just all flew away! A waste of $10 if I ever saw one.

Thanks for any help.

[thomasJ]

[img]http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee340/aphid_2008/monarch-aphids[IMG]http://i533.photobucket.com/albums/ee340/aphid_2008/monarch-aphids035.jpg[/img]005.jpg[/IMG]


We've had so much rain that the slugs and aphids are out in droves with no end in sight. Even the ladybugs can't keep up. Just squish them!

I'm trying to post photos for the first time. Hope it works.

[biwa]

That pink milkweed is pretty. What kind is it? I'm surprised something like that can survive up north.