Black Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillars

Last August my potted parsley plant suddenly sprouted pretty green and black caterpillars. These voracious foragers began to decimate my parsley, taking tiny bites for hours on end. At the peak of this eating season, there were 22 caterpillars.

They were Black Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillars, and I loved and let them have their way with the parsley. After all, what need did I have for parsley when it clearly was the preferred diet of these hungry, hungry caterpillars?

This spring I planted another pot with parsley, hoping that last year’s good fortune would strike again. And...it has!

In early August, I spied two tiny caterpillars. Tiny as in...about 1/2 inch in length. And...hungry.

Every day I look for more. Every day I carefully water the parsley. Every day I hope the birds do not find them. Every day I wish for Black Swallowtail Butterflies.

And bumblebees...