CLOSED: Help w/caterpillar ID

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Syrumani Whitsett, NC(Zone 8a) Jun 24, 2007

I paid $1.95 for a parsley plant so that my son could bring home this caterpillar. The lady at the nursery said what type it was, but I do not remember. If someone would help me please, I'd appreciate it.

Also, if anyone else has this, what other types of plants do they eat? I've never planned a garden around a catepillar before . . . is there anything particular that they like to form there cacoons on?

Thanks a bunch,
Nichole

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jun 24, 2007

Some Swallowtail's larvae will eat parsley... What does it look like?

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fly_girl The Woodlands, TX(Zone 8b) Jun 24, 2007

It probably is a Black Swallowtail. They also like Dill, Queen Anne's Lace.....plants in the Parsley family.
They often climb up a stick and get higher to spin their chrysalis.

Do you have a reptile cage or something safe from predators for him?

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Syrumani Whitsett, NC(Zone 8a) Jun 24, 2007

Can't believe I forgot to put the pic! So sorry! Here he is:

Thumbnail by Syrumani
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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jun 24, 2007

That's okay, fly girl ID'd it anyway!

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Syrumani Whitsett, NC(Zone 8a) Jun 24, 2007

No, nothing to protect from predators. What goes after caterpillars? Would one of those reptile carrier containers from wallyworld work? How much space does he need?

Thanks for your help!

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fly_girl The Woodlands, TX(Zone 8b) Jun 24, 2007

Haha, thanks Mike....lucky guess.

Syr, it won't need much space, a reptarium would be good. I always put tulle (can get it at WM too) under the lid so spiders can't get in. Cats have a lot of predators.......wasps, anoles, birds, assassin bugs, spiders and lots of others.

Yours is getting big, probably another week or less and he'll climb to the top and hang for maybe a day. When there's a space between his head and body, he is close to making his chrysalis. He'll be in the chrysalis about 10 - 12 days. It's exciting!

Good luck!

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Syrumani Whitsett, NC(Zone 8a) Jun 24, 2007

Wow! This will be exciting! Maybe I'll get one of those 5 or 10-gallon tanks with a screen lid . . . make an herb terrarium . . . even after he turnes into a butterfly, we can still use the herbs, right? Cool! (look at me, getting excited over my sons caterpillar!)

Temperature is a factor, though, right? What's a good temperature? (guess I'd better look and see if there is a caterpillar forum!)

Thanks for your help everyone!

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jun 24, 2007

You're welcome! Here's a link to the Hummingbird and Butterfly Gardening forum:

http://davesgarden.com/forums/f/bbb/all/

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thea611 Manning, SC(Zone 8a) Jun 26, 2007

You probably won't have any herbs left, Syrumani, boy, can these little guys eat!!!! My parsley is almost gone, but my dill is a huge plant, and it's all theirs.....

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