The Milkweed PatchA Place for Resting, Seeking Refuge and Making a Home

Hildegard Kuse

Loretta Kuse

Resting in the Milkweed Patch

• In most milkweed patches other plants such as grasses and goldenrod grow there too.

• These plants attract seed and leaf-eating animals that do not feed on the milkweed plant. These animals may use the sturdy milkweed plant to rest on or find shelter.

• These creatures might become prey to the predators lurking in the milkweed patch.

A Nursery for Young Spiderlings

• Nursery Web Spiders place their egg sac between folded leaves fastened together with a network of silk threads.

• This makes a safe hiding place for their young.

Nursery Web SpiderPisaura mirabilis

Nursery Web Spider Guarding its Nest

Nursery Web Spider’s Egg Sac

Firefly on Milkweed Leaf(Family Lampyidae)

Larvae feed on small animals in debris. Adults may feed on nectar.

Firefly on Milkweed Leaf(Family Lampyidae)

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly on Milkweed Leaf

Common Blue Damselfly (Enallagma cyathigerum)

Red Green Leafhoppers Mating on Milkweed Leaf

Leafhopper on Milkweed Leaf

• The leafhopper is not known to feed on milkweed plants but may come there occasionally.

Leafhopper on Milkweed Leaf

• This Leafhopper is resting on a milkweed leaf.

Grasshopper resting on milkweed

Grasshopper Resting on Milkweed

Katydid resting on milkweed

The Song Sparrow is sitting on milkweed while eating grass

seeds.

White moth sitting on milkweed leaf.

A Yellow Dragonfly is Resting on a Milkweed Leaf

Young Rabbit Seeking Refuge Among Milkweed Plants