This is how it begins: a black Eastern Swallowtail butterfly somehow finds you. If you have dill or parsley growing, you become its best friend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The eggs are laid on the tiny leaves. If laid on parsley, after the eggs hatches, the young caterpillar will only eat parsley. If on dill, the same. Mama knows best. That is the first lesson.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And on the plant on which it’s been placed,
the young caterpillar will begin its eating frenzy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They begin as tiny little black, multi-legged critters with a white stripe.

They will shed their skins about five times and ingest it for protein. With each molt, they are freer to grow.

 

We bring them inside to the caterpillar condo, where we can control the feeding  and supply organic food. They eat constantly and grow quickly.

At first a few of them live together and enjoy munching and lunching together.

 

 

 

 

 

A little pillar with shedded skin and frass.

 

 

 

With each molt, they look a little different.

The ball on the far right is frass; poop!

The condos have to be cleaned many times during the day to get rid of the “frass” and put in fresh food.

 

 

 

 

 

They blend right in. They are not adverse to being gently petted. But if you bother a pillar, they will raise little red “horns”, even the tiniest babies, and give off an odor! Stay away!

Here are two enjoying their dill at the bottom of their condo (a former Talenti Ice cream jar).

You’ll often find them with their little legs wrapped around the herb stem.

 

 

They tickle!

 

All photography & edits: iPhone 11 Pro Max

to be continued …