Kevin Are you thinking that mine is not swamp milkweed for some reason? It was labeled as swamp milkweed from a local nursery that I find to be very reliable and it has bloomed and the blooms look just like swamp milkweed images I have looked up online. Just curious since you seemed skeptical. Thanks for the feedback on the size. That's very helpful!

You could bring a milkweed leaf indoors, one with an egg. I will put the leaf in a small cup with a bit of water in the bottom, to keep the leaf hydrated. If its a monarch egg, it will hatch in 3 or 4 days. First instar monarch cats are pretty tiny. You might have to hand rear the caterpillar to the 2nd or 3rd instar to be certain that its actually a monarch cat.

I've opened a few of the pods that have been effected by those seed-eating bugs. You can obviously tell the seeds that have been shredded. There are also some that appear intact, but seem to have a dullness or mildew-like change in color. Some can still look pretty normal, and I wonder if those might still be viable. However, I would not depend on those or use them for trades with others who are counting on good germination. I might just toss them into a spot in a ditch or spare area that could benefit from some milkweed volunteers. Martha

I did some googling, I did find that they created a hybrid by crossing showy milkweed w/ common milkweed, for the purpose of increased silk. Evidently that hybrid is trying to be used as a crop for insulation that they mix in w/ feather down. The cross worked, the pods just created more silk and less seeds. I'd like to see a pic of that hybrid. As for any other....I'm still looking!