Ants most definately eat butterfly eggs and 1st instar caterpillars (See below a section of an abstract). In fact, many plants, such as Senna, have what are called "extra floral nectaries". These are areas (usually little protruberances) that secrete nectar to attract ants. The ants in turn protect the plant from herbivores. There are lots of other things that eat eggs as well, ladybugs, tree crickets, lacewing nymphs. In addition, small wasps called chaclids, can lay their eggs inside butterfly eggs. This is why we often collect eggs and bring them to a safe place to raise. By the way, I have see a lot of chrysalises eaten by ants as well. They leave a nice neat hole, a little smaller than a pencil eraser. -Elisabeth Abstract I investigated variation in the effect of ants at extrafloral nectaries on the plant reproductive success among three populations of Cassia fasciculata (Leguminosae) in northern Florida. Results show that the possession of extrafloral nectaries can lead to increased reproduction. Density of ants and removal of experimentally placed Drosophila larvae were far higher on C. fasciculata than on nonnectariferous background plants. Ants preyed on eggs and small larvae of lepidopteran herbivores. C. fasciculata plants from which ants were excluded had more larvae of the major seed pod predator Phoebis sennae (Pieridae; Lepidoptera), suffered higher pod predation (at one site), and had lower reproductive output (at two sites) than did control plants to which ants had access. Effects of extrafloral nectaries on reproduction of C. fasciculata varied among the three populations, due apparently to differences in density of ants and potential herbivores.

If you have enough milkweed, there shouldn't be a problem. But if you have enough, you just as well seperate them just in case there is any kind of OE virus but I don't think they would have a problem getting along. It's more of a rearing container problem, actually... my other one's full of herbs and swallowtails (two or three kinds, on fennell, rue, and parsley; I'm hoping they get along, too!), so I've only got one available for milkweed right now. Here's a picture I took today, for anybody wanting to see the differences between a monarch (left) and a queen (right): No, that milkweed isn't the healthiest I've grown, but it looks worse in this shot than it is, and none of the cats seem to mind. Short of pesticides, I'm doing everything I can for that milkweed; the cats don't seem to mind, they chomp away obliviously.

I never really understood honeyvine until i watched the tiny, very insignificant flowers go to seed. Yes, they make the same basic pods like any conventional milkweed, just smaller and on crooked, pipejoint like stems. I had to look it up. This was some 30 years ago, but there it is--listed in the book, "Nebraska Weeds," and clearly a member of the milkweed family. That said, there is not one drop of latex anywhere, throughout this plant. Leave it to an insect to still smell the right phytochemicals, lay her eggs and hatch out larvae that will be just as nourished by it, as any conventional milkweed! I believe it was 8 or 9 years ago, that I saw a Monarch caterpillar feeding on honeyvine. One can just about classify some plants by host-specific bugs that are found on them.

What you may be having trouble with is the Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle. Believe me, I know what sometimes severe damage these can do. They don't always show up here, but when they do, I know I have to check the milkweeds often and kill all adults and larva I can find! Monarchs are seldom seen these days because of their rapidly plummeting numbers...and Asclepias tuberosa aren't all that popular with the Monarch, just from what I've heard. I hope to see some Monarch this spring, but my milkweed is just barely coming back from very severe cold (for my part of the country). I'm afraid I couldn't lure an ELF Monarch with barely any foliage even if they come by. Does these insects look familiar? Here is a link that might be useful: Bug Guide, Labidomera clivicollis