Black Swallowtail Larva

Papilio polyxenes asterius Stoll, black swallowtail larva. These butterfly larvae love feeding on the wild fennel. I scatter seeds throughout the garden just to attract these butterflies. They also like dill, parsley, carrot and Queen Anne’s lace foliage.

The photos below are of swallowtail who has just emerged from his chrysalis. Look how perfectly velvety his wings and body are! It always makes me a bit sad when I see the butterflies who have obviously been around for a while, with tattered, raggedy wings. I have more in common with those butterflies than I do with this young one!

A lifelong gardener and transplant to central Mexico chronicling new adventures and disasters. She shares her home with way too many animals, and if she isn’t putzing around in the garden you can probably find her inside vacuuming pet hair or experimenting with a new recipe. Learn more about Ann here.

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