Black swallowtail caterpillar (final instar)

I started bringing them in after I found 18 one day of various instars but they had all disappeared the following day - presumably eaten by birds. I keep them in an aquarium with a screen lid that I bought off of craigslist. I love watching them but they are very messy - basically eating & pooping machines!

I had watched the first group from teeny first instar to final instar but not fully grown. I was somewhat horrified when I walked out to find one assassinated by a European Paper Wasp. The rest disappeared over the next day or so. I don't have a good place to take some in.

I look to see them too Tamar! Last year I brought a few indoors & raised them to improve their survival rates. It was fascinating to watch them develop.

One of my all time favorites! The batch that were laid on my bronze fennel were doing well until the wasps found them... I hope the new ones make it.

Thank you Micolo!

Beautiful, its luminosity "shines" through

Thanks Reiko!

Wow.