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Black swallowtail butterfly catepillars are eating my dill!
+2
bufforpington
itsablondething
6 posters
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Black swallowtail butterfly catepillars are eating my dill!
And I couldn't be more thrilled! At first I thought they were monarch catepillars, but apparently they only feed on milkweed plants. So, these are definately black swallowtail catepillars. I am going to plant LOTS of dill next year to attract them.
I also wonder, is there any type of ornamental milk weed? I'd grow them for Monarch catepillars in a heartbeat.. or maybe just let some wild grow!
Usually the insect chomping away annoy me... this makes me want to sing with joy!
I also wonder, is there any type of ornamental milk weed? I'd grow them for Monarch catepillars in a heartbeat.. or maybe just let some wild grow!
Usually the insect chomping away annoy me... this makes me want to sing with joy!
itsablondething- Posts : 93
Join date : 2010-04-29
Location : Hanover, PA
Re: Black swallowtail butterfly catepillars are eating my dill!
That's so cool! I planted a butterfly garden, but it was mainly aimed at attracting Monarchs. Next year I'll have to add some dill. To answer your milkweed question; there are a few different types. I have common and swamp planted right now. Both get flowers but I find the swamp to be a little bit brighter. If you're looking for an ornamental perennial I'd probably choose that. Tropical milkweed can also be quite striking but it's an annual. Didn't do well here last year so I decided not to replant.
bufforpington- Posts : 2
Join date : 2011-06-09
Location : zone 7 NJ
Re: Black swallowtail butterfly catepillars are eating my dill!
Awesome... did you find your plants on line or buy locally? I am very excited about the prospect of planting butterfly catepillar food! (rather than just attracting the adults.. they need to get to that stage first!)
itsablondething- Posts : 93
Join date : 2010-04-29
Location : Hanover, PA
Re: Black swallowtail butterfly catepillars are eating my dill!
Swallotail catterpillars will eat anything from the dill family, which also includes fennel and carrots. They are so much fun!
For monarch caterpillars, in my backyard I have swamp milkweed in white and purple, common milkweed, tropical milkweed, butterfly weed, and joe-pye weed. For the butterflies I also have dahlias, salvia, yellow and purple yarrow, liatris, and purple coneflower. Only the tropical milkweed and dahlias are annuals. This year they seem to prefer the common milkweed the best. Last year it was the tropical. They are funny that way. The common spreads far & wide, but it is easy it pull it up from where you don't want it. And it smells heavenly! I have an abundance of tropical milkweed and white swamp weed seeds if you would like some. Both grow pretty easy from seed. Butterfly weed is hard for me, so I buy it from nurseries. The common milkweed I dug up from a field. I found out this year they will also drink nectar from lillacs, too. PM me your address if you would like some seeds.
For monarch caterpillars, in my backyard I have swamp milkweed in white and purple, common milkweed, tropical milkweed, butterfly weed, and joe-pye weed. For the butterflies I also have dahlias, salvia, yellow and purple yarrow, liatris, and purple coneflower. Only the tropical milkweed and dahlias are annuals. This year they seem to prefer the common milkweed the best. Last year it was the tropical. They are funny that way. The common spreads far & wide, but it is easy it pull it up from where you don't want it. And it smells heavenly! I have an abundance of tropical milkweed and white swamp weed seeds if you would like some. Both grow pretty easy from seed. Butterfly weed is hard for me, so I buy it from nurseries. The common milkweed I dug up from a field. I found out this year they will also drink nectar from lillacs, too. PM me your address if you would like some seeds.
nancy- Posts : 595
Join date : 2010-03-16
Location : Cincinnati, Ohio (6a)
Re: Black swallowtail butterfly catepillars are eating my dill!
Oh, I had the same issue last year; the caterpillars feasted and then stopped eating and my plant grew back! Fabulous!! There was enough for everyone!
Parsley and swallow tail catepillars
I have 8 lovely caterpillars but they are on the parsley. There is only one on the fennel. They are getting fat and lovely. They have such intense colors of black yellow and green.
I had many butterflies and am glad they are using my garden.
K51
I had many butterflies and am glad they are using my garden.
K51
kkugler51- Posts : 1
Join date : 2013-09-22
Location : indiana
Re: Black swallowtail butterfly catepillars are eating my dill!
They decimated my Italian Parsley last year . . . and like you I was thrilled.
I have seen women looking at jewelry ads with a misty eye and one hand resting on the heart, and I only know what they're feeling because that's how I read the seed catalogs in January - Barbara Kingsolver - Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
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