After finding the Black Swallowtail caterpillars munching happily on my Fennel plants last month I have been checking them every chance I get hoping to find more of the pretties. http://www.gardenstew.com/about6038.html This morning I found 7 of the Black Swallowtail larva on the Fennel, this is the largest one, about 3/4 inch (1.91 centimeters) long. There is one more almost this size then 5 of the teeniest little ones, most ranging from 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch, .64 to 1.27 centimeters, long. The tiniest ones are not long out of the egg, they are so small. I am guessing, but I think the bigger ones will soon be shedding their skin then they will be caterpillars like I found before. I never did find the chrysalis of any of the caterpillars last month, but I sure do have more of the Black Swallowtails out back now.
Strange little things aren't they? They almost look like some kind of bird dropping which I imagine would stop birds trying to eat them. Let's hope you are soon inundated with Black Swallowtail butterflies. :-D
LOL, Eileen! I was talking to my 10 year old the other day about that...he said it is gross, but very smart. We were talking about the Giant Swallowtail (I believe, or the tiger swallowtail) and that one looks exactly like bird poo. I saw a black swallowtail today, it is the first I can remember seeing. I've planted parsley and dill with hopes of them visiting.
