Comments on: Spotted a caterpillar on dill or parsley in your garden? IDing black swallowtail caterpillars

By: Paula G DeWitt

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:54:12 +0000

In reply to Diane.

Thank you so much for this article!
I just went out to my garden and spotted tiny little caterpillars all over my dill and parsley plants. At first I thought it was bird poo!
My plants are giant, so I have plenty to share! I just love swallowtails!

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By: James Miller

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 02:05:11 +0000

In reply to Jo Johnsen.

I love a happy ending. Just found a couple on my dill today.

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By: Tara Nolan

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:10:24 +0000

In reply to Jo Johnsen.

Hi Jo, I’m so glad the caterpillars found your container garden! And I don’t blame you for keeping the cabbage moths out!

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By: Jo Johnsen

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 19:10:01 +0000

I’m in my 70s, but always had them on our dill when I was a kid. When they got really plumped up we’d put a couple in a big jar with dill and a few sticks. We would then get to watch the whole process of them becoming a butterfly. It was fascinating.

I now live 3 stories up in a condo, but have a huge 1200 sq ft terrace. Every year I add more to my container garden. I have parsley every year, but never had the caterpillars before. I was thrilled when I found 2 today. They can munch their little hearts out.

As for the cabbage moth, I have bought covers for my radishes and kohlrabi. They absolutely destroy them. Sorry guys!!

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By: Jessica Walliser

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 16:10:24 +0000

In reply to Bridget Billings.

How exciting for you! Swallowtails overwinter as a chrysalis so just leave them be. They will continue to feed on the plants as long as they need to, then they will crawl off and find a place to form a chrysalis and hunker down for the winter as a pupa to emerge as an adult next spring/summer. Do not bring them indoors.

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By: Bridget Billings

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 18:54:05 +0000

I have a late crop of dill or a second crop either way it’s October and heading into the fall winter time in Wisconsin. There three caterpillars eating on the dill. I am so surprised that they are dealing with the cool temps. I don’t wan them to die and thinking of digging up the plants and bring then inside. Even if they do change into butterfly’s no where to go. What is the best thing to do…. let nature do it thing or help a being live out its life cycle. Temps are good for another week. I am a bee keeper I have done many things to help my bee continue to survive. B

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By: Sheryl Ferraro

Sun, 10 Sep 2023 13:01:31 +0000

Wasps. Yes they do. I had a mesh enclosed with baby swallowtails inside. I had put it outside on the porch for the afternoon and sadly left an opening. Big enough for those lousy little yellow jackets. They murdered the cats. I found them fallen off the plant with the little assassins still buzzing about. Grrrr. This year I have one that I am diligently protecting. I think it’s close to pupating.

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By: Carol OTOCKA

Sat, 09 Sep 2023 23:05:01 +0000

In reply to J. C. Smith.

This is my 2nd summer raising Black Swallowtails. Last summer I fed them dill/parsley plants and had 30 caterpillars. The next day, half of them had disappeared. We have skinks (lizards) in the yard and I realized he was the culprit taking them as well as the birds. I raised only 5 to release. This year, I purchased a 36 inch tower mesh cage ($28 at Amazon) and placed it on a bench in the shade. I have raised and released 40 butterflies which was a joy to see. The female returns and lays more eggs. It takes time to keep the cage clean if you place potted herbs in there. I changed the parsley every few days when the leaves were eaten. I’ve heard a use of raised beds works for some people; easier to care for them. Garden center had the perennial Rue today and it is a much larger plant to feed them. I live in southeastern Va so it’s Sept and I still have plenty of caterpillars to fed. I did save my parsley/dill after they ate all of it but it is slowly growing back. Rue was recommended. Hopefully they will eat it. I will say it was exciting every week seeing new butterflies emerge in the mesh cage. Takes a few hours for their wings to dry then I release them. Tips: The chrysalis needs to be kept out of the sun in a shaded area until they hatch. Don’t release them at night or in the rain. Whether leaving the caterpillars in the garden or a mesh cage, it is a joy to see their beauty. Females will have blue markings on wings and males are mostly yellow. Females will come back to lay eggs on your herbs daily. Eggs are tiny cream eggs, turn black then tiny black caterpillars hatch. The warps are predators, too so I used a mesh cage. Good luck to everyone.

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By: Lacey

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 03:48:25 +0000

In reply to J. C. Smith.

Wasp enjoy eating them. I found two on my parsley plant after watering one morning. Before going in I looked at them and a wasp swooped in and snatched one up. I am now nurturing the other until it turns.

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By: Tara Nolan

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 20:38:04 +0000

In reply to J. C. Smith.

Hi J.C., I don’t usually see a chrysalis, a caterpillar will just disappear one day. It’s possible that a hungry bird came along (and one time there was evidence that had happened), but I like to think they’ve just found somewhere more out of the way to form a chrysalis.

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