Raising Swallowtail Caterpillars

8/16 This is the day we found him on our dill plants. 

8/20

Another view of the caterpillar and his shed skin.

Here you can see the skin that the caterpillar shed. 

8/20

Later the same day...he looks bigger already! 

For perspective, here he is, shown with the entire container in the picture. 

8/24 Four days later, he was very active and eating.  This was the first we'd witnessed this much activity.

 

In these pictures (above and below) you can see a smaller caterpillar that was more recently hatched. He was actually smaller than this when he was hatched. He's the dark brown line to the left of the big caterpillar.

I didn't know a caterpillar could poop so much! 



 8/26

CHRYSALIS The pupa stage

On 9/7 at my daughter's birthday party, we had a very special guest join us!  

The butterfly rested briefly on my daughter's finger before flying away!



In November we got a startling surprise, from one of our wintering chrysali emerged a butterfly!  I was afraid to release her since it was so cold.  I made a solution of sugarwater and offered it to her, but I am not sure she ate much.  She lived for two weeks.  However, I know she wouldn't have lived long outside either, as late emerging butterflies only live a few weeks anyway.  We certainly had fun experiencing a butterfly up close.  Such a beautiful creation of God!