While working in the garden yesterday, I discovered several caterpillars eating the carrot greens. After a bit of googling, I learned that this is a preferred food for the mature larvae of the Eastern Black Swallowtail Butterfly. Since I admire the beauty of that butterfly, I snipped off the greens and left them in the garden when I pulled the carrots out (they will be part of this evening's supper).
I hope to see them fluttering around the yard next summer, even if it means that the carrot greens have to feed the next generation.
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2 comments:
Congratulations on finding the swallowtail caterpillar. These are quite easy to raise indoors and are fascinating to watch as they transform into butterflies -
http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2013/06/black-swallowtail-papilio-polyxenes_29.html
http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2013/07/black-swallowtail.html
Children are particularly awed by the process (as well as most adults). If you do feed them indoors, use your own carrots (or dill/celery/parsley) or purchase organic varieties, because some store-bought produce has been treated on the farm with pesticides.
Thanks for the tips! I have parsley and celery still growing, so I think I might try to keep one indoors.
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