GB Hatchery: Black Swallowtails

This summer I have enjoyed rearing monarch butterflies again

 as well as eastern black swallowtails!

Swallowtails lay eggs on host plants in the carrot family:

queen anne's lace, dill, fennel, parsley.

It's fascinating to watch them eat and grow as caterpillars and finally form a chrysalis.

This chrysalis turned brown and now looks like a piece of bark.

I'm not sure if it will emerge this year.

Late season swallowtails diapause in the chrysalis stage and overwinter, 

emerging the following spring.

Stay tuned...