Milkweed & Monarch Butterfly Mania

Many Different Caterpillars

 

Every year I plant parsley and dill in my gardens. I like to use the rich, green parsley plants to edge my butterfly garden beds. But I plant them for much more than the color.

Several species of swallowtail butterfly caterpillars eat plants in the carrot family which includes: carrots, parsley, dill and Queen Anne's Lace. You have probably tried delicious crunchy carrots. But I bet you've eaten parsley and dill, too. They are often added to foods like soups, stews and stuffings for flavoring. Parsley is laid on dishes as a garnish. Dill is what makes dill pickles ... dill. I noticed that a few of my parsley plants had lost nearly all their leaves. I saw this beautiful caterpillar resting on a stem.

I am glad I did not bother it.

"The caterpillars have a forked, glandular process behind the head that can be everted to emit a strong odor distasteful to predators." Arthropod Museum Notes

green arrow Caterpillars Contrast

Black swallowtail caterpillar (parsleyworm)

Papilio polyxenes Fabricius

Comparing exercise / Contrasting exercise

See a photo of the butterfly

Milkweed and Monarch Butterfly Main page

lots of other caterpillars - off site

Invertebrates - Frayer Model doc. | pdf.

Resources

ivy rule

All trademarks, copyright and logos belong to their respective owners.
©2003 Cynthia O'Hora All rights reserved.