Can you help me ID small green bugs that are on my milkweed plants?

Penne Johnson
by Penne Johnson

Hi everyone. My question .... I have found 2 about 1/4" or smaller green slimey looking things on my Milkweed. At firstI thought they were baby Cats but was obvious on closer looking at them they were not. They were almost transparentlime green color and had a blue spot near their heads obviously underneath their outer skin. Any idea what they mightbe? I did just put them in my birdbath water. Sounds so mean, but maybe you can tell me what they might be.Thanks guys.

  5 answers
    • Penne Johnson Penne Johnson on Aug 05, 2019

      Wow I went through all the Mweed photos here and yes I know aphids and this is definitely not that. I'm sorry but now I don't have one to show and have alot of difficulty transferring photos from one page to another or even to emails. Since Picasa is now gone and I used it for years with no problems at all, Google makes it really hard. but I will keep trying and hopefully can get another one to photo. I have had Mweed for 3 years a couple growing wild, and never ever saw this little creature. It is wormlike but has very pointed nose moving it constantly. Sure hope one doesn't grow up without my seeing it and doing damage to my plants. LOL Thanks so much, this answer is for everyone who was so kind to respond to my question. I definitely will let you all know if I do find out. Thanks again.

  • Ken Erickson Ken Erickson on Aug 05, 2019

    Aphid would be my first guess. You can always take them to a nursery.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Aug 05, 2019

    Hi there, These could be small caterpillars, but without a picture I'm as much in the dark as you are!

    • Penne Johnson Penne Johnson on Aug 05, 2019

      Hi John. They look more like a worm of some kind. Pointed nose moving it all the time possibly to help move itself. I do know aphids and wish I could get a photo and will definitely try if I see another one.

      It was a slimy looking thing so hope I don't see any more, and have never seen them before in 3 years this is a first and 2 so far. I look closely at my Mweed trying to get the cats off and into jars, as I did

      loose 28 of them in my garden. One even died in her chrysallis and she was the only one that I found and could see and watch. Found most of them dead on the ground. Thanks for your response. and to all who tried to help me here.

  • VET VET on Aug 05, 2019

    My daughter talks about Japanese beetles that sound like this. They will eat leaves on some plants that leaves them lacey looking. Put Seven on them if you think that is what the are.

  • Please share a photo, that would be the best way for us to identify them. A local nurse could help as well if you show them a photo and suggest a treatment.