Gulf Fritillary Eggs

I saw a Gulf Fritillary laying an egg on a dead tendril yesterday. I thought that was weird because they usually lay eggs on green healthy host plant. I looked more today and found two more eggs. So I collected them and took a picture. I have them near a green passiflora 'Berkeley' leaf now so that they will have something to eat when they hatch. I wonder what would have happened if I had left them? Would those tiny caterpillars have had the strength to find good food? I don't know.

On a side note, my phone takes surprisingly good closeups. I can see the ridges on those eggs! Maybe I don't need a new camera...