The little cat does not seem to be eating the milkweed, at least I have not seen any bites out of the leaves. Whatever it is it is fun to watch it scooting around the box. I wonder what it could be?

Can you take a close up of it? That might help.

Either my camera or my camera skills (and I know which one it is, ) will not take a close enough close up. Whatever the poor little thing is, it is not eating and it is slowing down. I found it on the back of an asclepias leaf so one would assume it likes milkweed. Obviously not.

My phone takes better pictures than my camera.

That doesn't look like a monarch cat, I would either isolate him or put him outside.

Gomphocarpus physocarpus and Gomphocarpus fruticosus are two plants that Monarchs are supposed to eat. I started some of each this year and they are very easy to germinate and grow.

Hairy Balls (Gomphocarpus physocarpus)
Swan Milkweed (Gomphocarpus fruticosus)

I'll probably do that, I did watch him (or her) around the eggs to make sure he wasn't interested in munching on them.

frostweed said:Brenden I am sorry but I have no seed for them at this time, maybe this fall?

Ya that's fine, trust me I got enough going on growing wise anyways...

Good move to watch him, he could be a predator.

Jay, thank you for telling me about those plants, I will investigate and see.

Gomphocarpus physocarpus is supposed to be hardy to zone 8 G. fruiticosus to only 10a but both should be able to be maintained indoors in colder zones.

Alice, have the eggs hatched yet?

Sadly, nothing at all has happened. They just look like they did the first day I picked the leaves. Because we are going away this weekend I had even arranged for a friend to sit for them but it does not look like that will be necessary. A sad experiment but I do see a monarch laying eggs every day and I am going to leave them right where they are and let nature handle it this time. I have not seen any cats outside but all of a sudden there are many chewed leaves so I know they are there somewhere.

How many days have you had them? it might not be too late yet.
I suppose the little guy you had in their wasn't sucking the eggs dry?
If I were you I would not give up yet.

No, the little guy never paid any attention to them. They may not like indoor, my air conditioned house although I did mist regularly.

Just wait and see, I would put them by a window to get light and a little sun

Alice, I thought I would post the Monarch life cycle here so in case you have questions.
http://www.monarchwatch.org/bi...

https://www.learner.org/jnorth...

Thank you for that link Brenden, very interesting.

frostweed said:Thank you for that link Brenden, very interesting.

No problem! Once I saw they were spotted in ohio, I've gone in overdrive! Like waiting to see Jaws' fin stick out of the water...but a PRETTY fin haha