What are the black and orange insects eating my Butterfly Weed plant?

It sounds like a beetle of some sort, were are you located?

Sounds like you've got Oleander Aphids!

http://www.dbc.uci.edu/~pjbryant/biodiv/hemipt/Ole...

One of the best was to take care of soft-bodied insects like aphids is with insecticidal soap. This should clear up the majority of the problem, without harming the plant, nor leaving any residual which could harm other insects:

http://www.merrifieldgardencenter.com/products.php...

(Note, I am not necessarily endorsing this particular brand, it is just an example).

If you're a DIY-er, a Google search will bring up many recipes for homemade insecticidal soap.

If you're more interested in biological control, ladybugs (both larvae and adults) are voracious for aphids! You can order these in batches which can be set free on your plant.

Good luck!

1

I think its Box Elder bugs. Nasty little critters that crawl all over the place near a Box Elder tree. They also procreate like crazy. I hate Box Elder trees - they are junk trees and a nuisance.

Those are Ladybugs and are beneficial to your Butterfly Weed Plant. They eat tons of aphids, mealybugs, etc. People pay good money to have these nice little critters sent to them, so they can turn them loose in their gardens.

sounds like lady bugs. If it is leave them. They ae eating the insects that are the real culprits.

Sounds like box elder bugs

Dont know the name but heard them bugs cause a sleeping sickness with their droppings if rubbed into the eye or ingested.

they may be lady bug or beetle larvae and they a re on my plants as well. But they do not seem to be eating anything.

butterfly weed is also called chiggerflower, so maybe they're chiggers?