Labradoodle & Goldendoodle Forum
Who's Been Eating My Parsley
I think this is a Black Swallowtail Butterfly. The plants are decimated by a number of these but it's well worth it. I can always go to the supermarket for parley. These caterpillars must have really fresh breath.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle on
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Yep, they're black Eastern swallowtails. I discovered five of these on Jan'es parsley when I was visiting her, and looked them up on-line; that distinctive coloring and pattern made them so easy to identify. It is amazing how fast they grow, too!
I love caterpillars, almost all caterpillars. I know they can be damaging to plants, but I just think they are fascinating! I stroked their backs and made that scary Y-shaped antenna pop up, lol. They remind me of the headlights on old corvettes, and they did me no harm at all.
Jane never did see the chrysalises (chrysali? What's the plural of chrysalis?) after they left her parsley plant, but she did subsequently see a couple of the butterflies, and has reported that she had a whole new crop of caterpillars.
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Permalink Reply by F, Calla & Luca on
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Okay, the plurals are chrysalides or chysalises : ) I saw this strange protrusion from the rear of one and I wondered if it was making a chysalis. More research.
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Wow!
Here is one of the black swallowtail; the photography leaves a lot to be desired, but it's interesting because of the difference in the way it attaches and the appearance of the chrysalis. I can see how this would be easy to miss, especially if it was among foliage.
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Where ?
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Duh, I forgot the link!
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It's amazing isn't it. Several caterpillars have now reached the top op the parsley stalks, probably 18 inches tall, and are just staying there. We'll see what tomorrow brings.
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If they do what Jane's did, they will disappear at some point. We could not find the chrysalises anywhere. It was over a period of just three days that they got much much bigger and then just disappeared.
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Hmmm.
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I should add that Jane's parsley was in a planter on her deck rail, surrounded by lots of other dense plantings and shrubs below all of it, so I think the chyrsalises were probably well hidden.
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Permalink Reply by Jane, Guinness and Murphy on
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I've really enjoyed watching the "caterpillar evolution" this Summer. We call them "Karen's caterpillars" since they arrived when she did. Since then we've had butterflies and another whole cycle. Apparently they're finished for the year, and my parsley is back to looking great.
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I just glanced tonight and most but not all are gone : )
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