Blackened Milkweed - Ask Extension
What has blackened my milkweed and shriveled all of the milkweed pods? And there are little yellow aphid-like bugs on the plants - are they related to...
Knowledgebase
Blackened Milkweed #724558
Asked September 16, 2020, 5:56 PM EDT
What has blackened my milkweed and shriveled all of the milkweed pods? And there are little yellow aphid-like bugs on the plants - are they related to the blackening? What can I do to control this occurrence next year?
Bucks County Pennsylvania
Expert Response
Hi:
The black stuff is sooty mold. It is a fungus that grows on honeydew. Honeydew is the waste product of certain insects with piercing and sucking mouthparts. In this case, it is oleander (or milkweed) aphid. Next year, you can scout for them earlier and spray with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Both of these insecticides can be purchased in ready to use formulations at a garden center.
The black stuff is sooty mold. It is a fungus that grows on honeydew. Honeydew is the waste product of certain insects with piercing and sucking mouthparts. In this case, it is oleander (or milkweed) aphid. Next year, you can scout for them earlier and spray with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap. Both of these insecticides can be purchased in ready to use formulations at a garden center.
