I find them easy to raise. You can put cuttings in water or keep fresh cut leaves in a sealed ziploc container. The cats will live in folded leaves, normally waiting until dark to come out to eat, at least until they are 5th instar.

more info in these two threads:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/butterfly/msg0515004124134.html

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/butterfly/msg092028004805.html

'Wonder what the host plant, shrubby weed is.
Maybe false nettles or stinging nettles?
Or maybe an elm tree that had been cut down making sprouts?
Sherry

Question Marks like to lay on elm seedlings. I find them easier to raise on elm than Hops or nettle. Since I raise them in plastic food storage containers, I need leaves that don't wilt or dry out quickly. Elm leaves work better than the others. Do you know what plant they were depositing their eggs on?
-Elisabeth

Ladies I don't know. It's been here since we moved in this house - it's on a fence line and the entire side of the yard is like a jungle. I will take a picture this evening and post so you can help me identify it...

~Laura

Okay ladies - finally got out there and took that picture of the plant where the Question Mark was laying her eggs. I also captured 6 babies this morning. There are way more, but I wanted to be cautious and gage my success with the first batch.

{{gwi:504520}}

~Laura