bug photo for identification

[DanK]

This is a fairly low-quality shot I took just for identification purposes. These creatures are very small; the abdomens of the smallest ones are probably roughly 1 mm in diameter. I found them swarming on the stalk of an asclepius, with strays elsewhere on two plants.

[Geoff F]

A type of aphid?

[DanK]

Thanks. That's it. The orange aphid, which attacks milkweeds.

[LenR]

Agreed, look like aphids. Can be contolled by introducing ladybugs.

[DanK]

These were on the stalks of a couple of asclepius that were already dormant for the season, and they grow up from the ground, so I just cut the stalks, aphids and all, and dropped them into a bucket of soapy water.