We already have swallowtail butterfly caterpillars. The caterpillars that cocoon (it's actually a chrysalis) in the fall stay that way until the spring. Then the butterflies locate a patch of dill (or fennel, or related plant) and lay their eggs. Then the little caterpillars show up, eat a lot, actually shed their skin a couple times and change color then do this:
See the little tiny string on the side? That's what is holding up the caterpillar while it waits to form its chrysalis.Oh, and those little black things to the left? That's caterpillar poop. Just FYI.
Here's a link to some more info:
Black swallowtail butterfly info
I'll post an updated chrysalis pic when I get one. Below is the same caterpillar a couple days before.
Very cool pics! Thanks for the link! *adds dill to butterfly garden wish list*
ReplyDeletevery cool!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I planted dill last year per your instructions (the flowers didn't take). Nothing happened but I now have dill from last year growing up big and strong. I just bought cosmos seeds at the store today. What's the best case scenario for getting some butterflies and such? I'll plant the flowers, anyway, since you say they come back every year. (Yes, I consider YOU the authority! LOL!)
ReplyDeleteMe? THE Authority? Ha - I capitalized it. As long as the dill is there, the butterflies should come and lay the eggs. They just hang around longer if there are flowers nearby. We've only seen a butterfly laying eggs on the dill one time - all the other times have been on the flowers. Let me know how it goes!
ReplyDelete