Care of Monarch Eggs

[Pamela Moresby]

In Auckland NZ, we have our cold spring equinox winds and I found some monarch eggs on a small swanplant.
Not sure, whether I'm doing the right thing, picked the leaves with eggs on it and placed in a plastic container with no lid on a damp towel rag - on the laundry window.
Find often monarch eggs tend to disappear and hope this will ensure their survial.
Pam
from Auckland NZ

[Megathymus ursus]

Eggs need no care except protection from the elements. Also make sure that they will be near fresh plant at hatching time. PS: What is a "swanplant"?

[Pamela Moresby]

Dear Megathymus Ursus,

Thanks for the reply. A swanplant, is all that NZ can offer to feed monarch caterpillars, and we have several varieties which I have only recently found out.

The usual swanplant that most NZs know about is a milkweed, it has white flowers and when the flowers die off, they have seed pods. These split open and have a green shape of a swan's head inside it, plus seeds attached to white fluffy threads that blow away in the wind.

I've watched the eggs every day and watered the leaves to keep this plant alive. Will put out fresh food when they look like they are about to hatch.
regards
Pam

[Megathymus ursus]

Is a swanplant an actual Asclepias, or is it an "off-genus" milkweed like a Sarcostemma or a Calotropis or what?

Brian

[Pamela Moresby]

Brian,

Yes, the swanplant is called "Asclepias". (Asclepias phsocarpa) There are 2 other types of "Asclepias", that I've recently purchased. "Silky Gold" and "Silky Scarlet".
There may be other types of milkweed I've not yet discovered in NZ. Some types of milkweed are banned from NZ for environmental reasons give by the ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
regards
Pam from NZ

[Megathymus ursus]

I think "Silky Gold" and maybe "Silky Scarlet" are cultivars of Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica), which is said to be the very best food there is for monarchs. I've been noticing curassavica seems to be gaining a lot in popularity in California lately, maybe even displacing tuberosa, which is a good thing because it's such a better plant.

Brian