Milkweed 10 Bugs in 10 Minutes

On July 12th, 2015 I visited an area where mexican whorled milkweed plants are growing. The plants have attracted monarch's and swallowtail butterflies over the last week. Today I took my camera with the goal of photographing a few of the bugs. I was only at the truck stop where the flowers are blooming for no more then 10 minutes and I saw 10 different kinds of bugs. If you can help me identify any of the insects leave a comment below. 

Lady bugs, July 2:11 PM

Not just one lady bug but two lady bugs!

Wasp, JULY 2:12 PM

The yellow jacket sometimes appears to be a threatening menace at your backyard BBQ. Here in the milkweed meadow the yellow jacket is a gentle bug searching for pollen.

Bee, JULY 2:13 PM

This bee appears to be a honey bee. It is loading up on pollen. If you look very closely on the bees legs you may be able to see the pollinia packets attached. The bee is fertilizing the blossom and these flowers will most certainly become fruit in the form of seed pods in the next few weeks. 

Wasp, JULY 2:14 PM

I could use a bit of help with this wasp identification. Perhaps a Mud Dauber? 

Butterfly, JULY 2:15 PM

Cabbage white butterfly seen here is finding an outstanding source of nectar on the mexican whorled milkweed flowers.

Skipper, JULY 2:16 PM

This skipper butterfly is feeding on the milkweed while waiting for the additional blooms to open.

Milkweed Beetle, JULY 2:17 PM

Large milkweed bug. These bugs are pretty common on milkweed. Its a good idea to try and keep the large milkweed bug away from your milkweed when the seed pods form. The large milkweed bug will feed on the seeds. When they do feed on the milkweed seeds the seeds will not grow due to the damage this bug has caused to the seed.

Fly, JULY 2:18 PM

Big fly may be taking a break from flying in the hot sun.

Fly, July 2:19 PM

Small fly. This fly seemed pretty engaged in searching for something on the milkweed flowers.

Beetle, JULY 2:20 PM

I don't have the identification for this beetle. It may be visiting the milkweed while on its way thru the area.

That's 10 bugs in 10 minutes on milkweed

It's not hard to see all the value that milkweed has for pollinators and other insects. My favorite two kinds of bugs today are the butterflies and the bees. I try to pet a bee every day in the summer. Today was no exception. The bees were very friendly, even the yellow jacket.

If I had more time to stay at the milkweed it is very likely that I would have seen a monarch butterfly visit the plants. On a few visits here earlier in the summer I had seen a few different monarchs flying over and landing on these flowers.

If you are interested in growing mexican whorled milkweed in your yard or garden then you can pre-order the seeds now and expect delivery before the end of November. Visit the store to order milkweed seeds.