CLOSED: Cat on my rue

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CaptMicha Brookeville, MD(Zone 7a) Jun 06, 2006

I was expecting Black Swallowtails at one time or another but something different is using it as it's host.

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hill5422 Stephenville, TX(Zone 8a) Jun 06, 2006

That is a larvae of a Lady Bug/Beetle. Please let it stay as it is more likely eating your aphids.

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TomH3787 Raleigh, NC(Zone 7b) Jun 07, 2006

It's not a ladybug larva. It is indeed a caterpillar. It might even be a black swallowtail larva - when they are small they're much darker (almost solid black when they first hatch).

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trackinsand mid central, FL(Zone 9a) Jun 07, 2006

i'm not sure if it's black swallowtail (http://images.google.com/images?q=black+swallowtail+larvae&hl=en&btnG=Search+Images ) but it's a cat of some kind. not ladybug larvae. hey tom, happy belated birthday greetings. i appreciate all of your ids on this forum. debi

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hello85 Ottawa Lake, MI(Zone 6a) Jun 07, 2006

Hi...

Just writing to let you know... that is a Black Swallowtail larva! They are definitely that way when they are small. They get green with black stripes, and yellow dots after they are in 2nd or 3rd instar (shedding). Hope that helps, and it turns out what you were hoping for after all! :)

God bless,
Jeff

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CaptMicha Brookeville, MD(Zone 7a) Jun 07, 2006

Sweet! I actually planted the rue just for this purpose.

I need to start checking the parsley in my b-fly garden too. I know the black swallowtails are so common but they're so pretty and eat up all that queen anne's lace.

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hello85 Ottawa Lake, MI(Zone 6a) Jun 09, 2006

:) Glad you were able to get some! You'll probably find them on the parsley, too. They are very cool! My brother raised them for a couple years, about 7 or 8 years ago... hundreds of them. They're really fun!

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