One week ago, I bought a bronze fennel plant at the nursery and on it was a tiny, black smudge of a caterpillar – a very young black swallowtail larva. I have been watching all week as it has grown, and every day it’s noticeably larger. I am expecting it to pupate soon.
Here’s a close up. You can practically hear it munching. I am so glad I am one of those people who notices the little things going on in my garden. Nature makes my days much more interesting.
Digging RI 
He’s gorgeous! Now that you have fennel, it will always be there. I started out with one plant years ago, and let most of them go to seed for new plants the following spring. I love the foamy, purple sprays in my herb garden, and the swallowtails they attract!
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Thanks! The fennel is in a container now but I’ll plant it properly later.
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I’m glad you are, too, dn. 🙂
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Thanks CJ!
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How very exciting. I don’t imagine they are very common. Saw one early Friday morning at our local Community Garden. It was slowly making its way across a raised row between the young vegetable plants. The previous day we had sprayed (organic) for those teeny tiger-striped squash bugs, so I hope it was not disoriented or dying! Gorgeous colors. Thanks for the ID – I didn’t know, and am so pleased that at least *some* swallowtails may grace the farm.
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