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Eastern Black Swallowtail

Papilio polyxenes

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6 Comments

SanciaMatthyssen
SanciaMatthyssen 10 years ago

Lol, didn't know that :-)

gatorfellows
gatorfellows 10 years ago

You are welcome. I grow two parsley plants each year so I can have caterpillars to take to show and tell at the elementary school. The children love to see the ostermeria pop out when you annoy them. They always squeal when I tell them it is the same chemical that makes the vomit smell. Cool fact. :)

SanciaMatthyssen
SanciaMatthyssen 10 years ago

Thank you for the info! There were so many of them!!

gatorfellows
gatorfellows 10 years ago

If you look closely at your chrysalis you should be able to see the "saddle", a silk thread that supports the center. It should turn darker just before it emerges, about 2-3 weeks. Here is a spotting I have PN: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/113...

gatorfellows
gatorfellows 10 years ago

Martini is correct. This is a black swallowtail, Papilio-polyxenes, caterpillars and chrysalsis - They use parsley and other members of the carrot family as host plants.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/speci...

MartinL
MartinL 10 years ago

If you check this link you will notice that this is a swallowtail (Papilio sp.) http://www.pbase.com/image/49089994 The monarch also has a large caterpillar bit striped with yellow, black and white. http://www.pbase.com/rcm1840/monarch_lif...

SanciaMatthyssen
Spotted by
SanciaMatthyssen

Texas, USA

Spotted on Jun 5, 2013
Submitted on Jun 11, 2013

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