We all need them at one time or another. And aren’t we thrilled when we get a second chance to do the right thing? Well, I’ve gotten one!
Last June I shared an embarrassing moment in the garden when I mistook a soon-to-be Western Swallowtail butterfly for a tomato worm and killed it. I was very disgusted with myself about this mistake. This morning I found another caterpillar on a parsley plant.
Now I need to find out how long it will take before it becomes a Swallowtail that will fly away. If you happen to know, please share. I’d love to be there for the big event!
I couldn’t help myself: I researched swallowtail life cycles to discover how the cocoon must be treated in order for the butterfly to emerge. The cocoon must be viable until next spring! So, looks like you will have a third chance, so to speak, to help the swallowtail along. You just need to find all the cocoons before you throw them away when you clean your garden.
Hey, good to know. We’ll sift through the greenery. Thanks!
In Ohio the parsley worms get to be about the size you have pictured and then they create their chrysalis. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Swallowtail_Papilio_polyxenes_Chrysalis.jpg
Sometimes they are sneaky and crawl away to do this step, we have found them on other plants and the deck rail and sometimes not at all. In about a week to 10 days you will notice that the chrysalis is changing color (dark shadow) and you will be able to see some spots. in a few days the chrysalis will break open and the swallowtail will come out, his wings will be crumpled and wet. It will take about an hour or more for him to unfold them completely. During that time the wings are wet and very delicate and can easily be broken or deformed. When he starts to open and close his wings and they look dry and bright in color he is ready to fly away. We had our last one cycle through last month. Here we won’t see any again until next July.
Sue, thanks for sharing your experience with this wonder of nature. My worm has sauntered away so I will check nearby places. I really would like to see the big event.
Usually 2 wks to cuccoon, ten days in cuccoon, there you have it. Sent you costume party invite for 7 on 26th, if you’re in town. Call me!
Aha! I’ll keep a watchful eye. Thanks.
Dear Franki,
I recommend Arthur Shapiro’s Field Guide to Butterflies of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions. It is one of the California Natural History Guides, and is a favorite of mine for when I have insomnia. It only has one drawback: no pictures of larvae. But he does mention that Western Tiger Swallowtails feed on trees while Anise Swallowtail larvae feed on umbrels like parsley and sweet fennel or anise. He does say of the Anise Swallowtail that “it is easy to find and rear and is a favorite for classroom activities.” I’m all for appreciating nature, but forget the guilt and save it for when you do something really bad…
I enjoy your art and your blog and like to see what you are up to every week or two. I’m thinking of starting a blog myself and I like your style. Thank you.
Meredith, Thank you for taking the time to pass on this information. Sounds like I need to pick up Shapiro’s book! Last year my neighbor picked what sounds like the Anise Swallowtail and we watched while he released it from the jar for his daughter. I have been checking my garden but haven’t found the larvae again. I assume it has found ‘greener pastures.’
If you start a blog, be sure to share it with me.