@anole Here's one of the smaller Black Swallowtails I'm raising right now. Mine eat Rue, though. Too hot for parsley.

good to know , my fennel just started to flower and I've been watching it for any sign of black swt cats. they have been here every year we have had the fennel but all I've ever seen is mature cats.

Yeah, the different instars look quite...different. They don't get that stripey look until they're nearly full grown.

Thanks for the id Melanie, it is very hot in south Louisiana--low 90's and I am thinking about bringing them inside where the temps are in the 70's. I'd like to try and see them as butterflies. They are not moving much in this heat and the plant gets a lot of direct sunlight. Do I need to mist the parsley if I bring the cats inside?

thanks,

Anole

I don't mist the leaves. They tend to eat them fast enough and I worry more about excess moisture than I do leaves drying out.

I admire those of you who are raising butterflies indoors.
Mine are just on their own in the gardens.
Some little ones from today.

I was outside from 7 am to about 2 pm working hard in the garden. And taking lots of pictures!

First, I had to feed the Black Swallowtail cats. They were in a caterpillar train on the Rue.



I feel like I know this moth, but I sent it to BAMONA for ID.



The Duskywing was enjoying my Dune Sunflowers and my Blanket Flowers. Nice to see the new garden up front is working!



Male Swallowtail came by to eat.



And then - someone I haven't seen in quite a while. A Tiger Swallowtail! Pretty sure this is a female but she didn't seem interested in my Sweetbay. She looks really fresh so I suppose it's possible she hasn't mated yet.



I took a lot more pics, but I gotta keep some for the photo contest, you know?

Really worn out Long-Tailed Skipper.



I have tons of Zebra Longwings around. They just float through like they don't even care.



This is a really fresh Gulf Fritillary!



Spicebush came back for more.



My (Gulf Frit) caterpillar transport service is still handling a lot of business.



And there are still plenty of Gulf Frits on the passion vine.



The Giant Swallowtail had been eluding me all day, but it finally came around.

Forgot something. When I came back in, I checked all the caterpillars, and another one of my Saddlebacks was parasatized. Only two cocoons on it, but there would be more if I waited. I euthanized it, and the wasp cocoons. When I saw the first one had been parasatized, I worried that the others were, too. Turns out I was right.

Ann identified it in this very thread Melanie

flaflwrgrl said:Found it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@dyzzypyxxy
Little Butterflt - Pyrausta tyralis
http://www.butterfliesandmoths...
http://bugguide.net/node/view/...
http://wildflowers.jdcc.edu/Co...

You have wild coffee down there & that's it's host plant.

See, I KNEW I had seen it recently.

Today's only butterfly photo. Too many errands to run.

Released 7 today, Have three ready to go in the morning, and three more to have a birthday tomorrow. That only leaves 3.
Sure has been fun

Perfect photo GrammaChar.

Woooo Hooooooooo Pam! Way to go girl!

As you've probably figured out from my avatar, the Gulf Fritillary is one of my favorite butterflies. Today a beauty came to visit the garden.

Very Beautiful GC

That is a gorgeous one, GrammaChar!

I do not visit here very often any more.....but it is nice to see all these beautiful butterflies! Some days I really miss raising cats like I used to do, but I know I just do not have the time right now to do them right.

I was out doing some weeding and plant moving this morning when I spotted this one. So went and got the camera. I think I remember that this is a Hackberry Butterfly???

I would say Yes .. Hackberry Butterfly ,,

That Gulf Frit is so perfect it must have just eclosed. Perfect photos too!

Nice job Claudia!

Thanks for teaching me a new word, Ann!