CLOSED: They are so pretty that..

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jadajoy Newport News, VA(Zone 11) Aug 17, 2007

I let them eat my carrots......
Anyone know what these are?

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jadajoy Newport News, VA(Zone 11) Aug 17, 2007

Love the coloring

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Aug 17, 2007

Shoot, I didn't get to ask 'how pretty are they?'

They're Black Swallowtail larvae, Papilio polyxenes

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jadajoy Newport News, VA(Zone 11) Aug 17, 2007

Nice camoflage

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jadajoy Newport News, VA(Zone 11) Aug 17, 2007

Thanks Clay!
That was so quick I didnt get to post the rest of the pics :-)

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Aug 17, 2007

Go ahead! Maybe we can figure out what instars they are.

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jadajoy Newport News, VA(Zone 11) Aug 17, 2007

whats an instar?

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jadajoy Newport News, VA(Zone 11) Aug 17, 2007

last one

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Aug 17, 2007

An instar is a stage of development in insects (and other arthropods). Yours look like the fifth and last instar; pupating is next. Here's a picture of the second instar of the same caterpillar, it looks very different:

http://davesgarden.com/guides/bf/showimage/4029/

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jadajoy Newport News, VA(Zone 11) Aug 17, 2007

Wow,
They do look a lot different. How soon till butterflies?

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fly_girl The Woodlands, TX(Zone 8b) Aug 17, 2007

jada, after they pupate and make a chrysalis, they will emerge as a butterfly in about 9-12 days.

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