Several months back I started narrowleaf milkweed plants (seeds from livemonarch.com). About a week ago I noticed the first caterpillar, and the next day the second. Today the one at the top of the photo left the plant and started looking for a spot to pupate. Also today, found 4 (!!) more caterpillars amongst the plants. I am beyond thrilled, I never expected to get monarchs actually laying eggs on these plants so soon.
I can't get milkweed to grow but I have 3 short cassia leptophylla trees grown from seeds in pots. And I've got a couple generations of Cloudless Sulfur butterflies going now with the caterpillars monching away and making cool chrysalises. The trees aren't native but the butterflies are! So I'm happy, and when one tree gets too bare I can move the sprig with the caterpillar to another so he can fatten up.
I have the same caterpillars going wild on partridge peas (Chamaecrista nictitans) and some are winding up in weird places to make their cocoons… like the inside of my porch somehow…