A Brown-belted Bumble Bee (Bombus griseocollis) flies toward Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Baltimore, Maryland

While monarch butterflies are commonly associated with milkweed, you may be surprised to learn that it’s a food source for a variety of other insects. Red Admiral and American Lady butterflies nectar at this plant. In addition, a variety of bees such as Texas Leaf Cutter, European or Western Honey Bee, and various bumble bees like this Brown-belted species also frequent milkweed.