How can I get rid of aphids without harming monarch caterpillars?

Penne Johnson
by Penne Johnson

I don't want to spray my plants due to my Monarch Caterpillars, I have been just rubbing the aphids off the plants. Only on my mileweed plants. Don't have them on the rest of my garden, this is the first time I have had them at all. I can't water heavily due to again my baby Cats growing. Is their something I can put on the plants that won't hurt my caterpillars. Thanks

  5 answers
  • Little Sprouts Learning Little Sprouts Learning on Jul 23, 2019

    Hand scraping is safest, but you could also get some ladybugs, put some netting over the plant like a large mesh laundry basket or something you can secure to the ground so it can't fall over. Put the ladybugs in there and in a few days let them out after they eat them.

  • Laura Cooper Laura Cooper on Jul 23, 2019

    I would suggest buying a vial of ladybugs

  • Mogie Mogie on Jul 23, 2019

    Ladybugs will eat those aphids and leave the caterpillars alone.

    • Penne Johnson Penne Johnson on Jul 28, 2019

      I didn't know about lady bugs. Probably can't afford them now. Sure they wouldn't be much, but I am two weeks away from SSI. Thanks so much I would like to use this method. Have had such a hard time with the gardeners spraying weeds outside my 3ft wall about 2ft from my Mweed. Ughhhhhhhhhhh lost total of 28 Cats. Thanks for help

  • Judy Judy on Jul 26, 2019

    OK this is simple use this mixture. Get a spray bottle and fill it with water and like 10 drops of green, Palmolive dish soap. It must be the green kind. Sprayed on your plants. Aphids absolutely hate it and it won’t harm anything. You have to reapply after rain

  • Penne Johnson Penne Johnson on Jul 26, 2019

    Thanks so much I keep taking them off by hand, LOL but will do that. I only have dawn but 99cent store has the palmolive. Thanks for responding.