These brightly coloured and very attractive aphids begin appearing in mid-summer, attacking mostly milkweed plants, although sometimes found on other plants too. They attract predators such as the larvae of hover flies, lady beetles, and lacewings. Tiny jumping spiders will also take aphids as prey. In the meantime, the aphids often have a protective coterie of ants who try to fight off intruders. The ants are not being altruistic, but rather defending their "herd" of honeydew producers!