2024 May 8 Black Swallowtail

 I planted Dill in a terra cotta pot in fall last year. I know it attracts Black Swallowtail Papilio polyxenes butterflies, because it is a larval host plant. Dill, Parsley, Fennel, Carrots, and Golden Alexander will all host Black Swallowtails. 

As soon as the Dill sprouted, there were three caterpillars on it. The small amount I planted would definitely not be enough, so I ended up buying organic Parsley for them to munch on too. As the season turned colder, I saw one caterpillar die in the process of making a chrysalis, so I put the other two caterpillars and the pot of dill into a butterfly tent on the porch. Another appeared to die halfway through making a chrysalis, but one formed a nice-looking but small covering. It overwintered through all the winter bluster on the porch.

The babies on dill. September 19, 2023.

The whole terra cotta pot was moved into a butterfly tent when the weather turned cold. 

Well, yesterday was the day. When I came home from work, there was a tiny Black Swallowtail climbing up the tent. Our friend Megan and her baby Charlie biked over and we released the butterfly. It flew FAST out of the zippered tent and past the front yard. I should have taken a better photo before I let it go. Luckily we have some Tiger Swallowtail chrysalises that also overwintered on the porch. Fingers crossed!

The little Black Swallowtail that overwintered on the porch.

Bye bye butterfly!

From “Butterflies of North America” by Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman