It's October 28th. The days are getting shorter and shorter and, colder and colder.
So I never thought that I would have swallowtail caterpillars at my garden this late in season.
Three of them are busy eating all day long at one of my parsley plant, including a tiny one!
 |
| Papilio polyxenes on Petroselinum Crispum |
I also have two more at my Fennel plant.
 |
| Papilio polyxenes on Foeniculum Vulgare |
I was a little disappointed after I bought bronze fennel because I had read somewhere that swallowtails prefer parsley or regular green fennel over the bronze fennel. But I have many more parsley plants throughout my garden, and a mom butterfly chose to lay eggs on bronze fennel. YAY!!
 |
| Papilio polyxenes on Foeniculum Vulgare |
This is the first year I pay attention to butterflies, so I don't know if it is normal in butterfly world to be this late in caterpillar stage. I guess these caterpillars will go in chrysalis and hibernate until spring. It's just that I have never payed attention to what butterflies do at this time of the year until now.
We never stop learning and learning is fun!!
You may ask, "Why do you get excited to have these bugs in your garden?"
Because out of them come these beautiful butterflies.
 |
| Papilio polyxenes |
 |
| Papilio polyxenes |
 |
| Papilio polyxenes |
Sharing with you and Little Things
Beautiful shots of the butterflies! The caterpillars in your garden have a bright future!
ReplyDeleteGracias Leticia por compartir las larvas y le milagro de las preciosas mariposas!!!
ReplyDeleteUn beso.
I love butterflies and try to plant to make them happy. Well done! Your garden has supplied food and a home. Gorgeous shots.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right . Whenever I get upset about an invasion of bugs I have to remind myself how much I love butterflies. Lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful how life is always going on! These are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love the second shot... the lines of the caterpillars against the lines of the plant are brilliant
ReplyDeleteMollyxxx