I think I killed a black swallowtail caterpillar yesterday and I feel awful about it. In my defense - it scared me 1/2 to death (I'd never seen one before) and it WAS eating my carrot tops. I thought it was a tomato hornworm I keep hearing so much about.
How do you handle this? Do you let them eat until they've cocooned or move them (won't they come back?) or *gasp* kill them? I like butterflies and wouldn't have harmed it if I knew what it was.
Lovie, you pick up some fennel seeds and grow a container of fennel for the caterpillars. They love the fennel, so they tend to leave everything else alone. That way they can eat their fill without tearing up your garden and you get a bumper crop of carrots to munch while you watch the butterflies.
Oh Thank You! I will try that!
You are very welcome.
