Eggs on lone milkweed - success rate?

[dlakows]

Yesterday I saw a monarch laying eggs on a lone swamp milkweed plant that is between a public beach and boat ramp. The next closest milkweed plant is at least 30 ft away. I am concerned that the plant may not be enough food for a catepillar, if not multiple catepillars. For the greatest success rate, should I bring them home to rear them or are they better off on their own? (I have not reared them before, but have have read about it many times and am very interested) ??????? Thoughts???????? I have plenty of milkweed available.
There is a field of common milkweed in the area, does it make any sense to move them to the field at some stage?????

Debb

[dandjtaylor]

The survival rate of reared versus left in the wild is tremendous. I collect any wild egg that I come across simply because of the less than 2-5% survival rate (from egg to butterfly). At home, that rate can be as high as the mid 90's%. Give them a chance...take them home if you have the 'weed.

One man's opinion.

[Mona Miller]

Most won't even make it to the egg stage. There are so many predators on the milkweed that will even suck the little caterpillar right out of the egg--spiders and assassin bugs. I wish I had some eggs. Very few Monarchs here in my area.

I think I read somewhere that we get most of our Monarch population from those that winter over in Florida. This year there was a freeze way down past Central Florida. I'm wondering if that is why we have so few. The freeze killed the population overwintering in the Southern part of Florida.

[dlakows]

You have convinced me - I have collected nine eggs - one hatched this morning - now all I have to do is figure out how to be a good mother

Debb

[Mona Miller]

Just read those website that I've posted and ask questions. The most important thing is to put them into a container. I use a deli lid top. I put the leaves on the deli lid and then put that into a larger container. Under the deli lid, I place a damp papertowel for humidity. The new caterpillars will crawl over and eat an another egg, so you have to watch and when one hatches remove it to a separate container. I usually try to separate them by instar.

http://www.monarchwatch.org/rear/index.htm
Rearing Monarchs

http://www.monarchwatch.org/biology/cycle1.htm
Monarch Life Cycle
Shows the instars

Best not to move caterpillars, but move them on the leaves. They could be molting. They will rest up to a day when they do this. If they are on the side of the container, leave them there. I usually just clean around them. They put down a mat of silk and attach themselves and then crawl out of the old skin.