Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Mid-Atlantic Bird Watching - Fall 2013, 1 by AmandaEsq

AmandaEsq wrote:
Gitagal:

I garden for wildlife, including for butterflies, which means obviously planting nectar and larval host plants.

I collect the caterpillars and raise them in containers to protect them from predators. This has more to do with my fascination of the Monarch species and its dwindling numbers and threatened migration than the black swallowtail, but they are as likely to be eaten as any other bug in the garden.

Their chrysalis will be camouflaged per time of year and what it might be hanging from. The ones that Pupate in September/October usually over winter wherever they are. This is why I leave the dead plants standing till well Into spring because there could be anything just hanging out ready to wake up for spring.

They can travel a bit to find a spot. Can't remember numbers for that species, but their behavior is pretty well
Documented. This past spring I had five over winter and lost one. I now have sixteen chrysalis in four containers that will be stored on shelves in a closet on the back porch with louvered doors that let in air, light and humidity. It's fun. Another harbinger of spring. They start coming out in April/May.