Black Swallowtail Cats (9 of them)

[texas butterfly]

Just was watering my dry backyard and was pleasantly surprised when I found 9 black swallowtail cats feeding on "weeds" in my citrus plant pots. If they can make it just a couple more days, they will probably goto PUPA state. They are already that big.

Initially, I thought they were feeding on citrus, but they are feeding on a plant that looks like fennel.

I have a reocurring problem with this plant in my citrus pots. Doesn't seem to do any harm, just make the citrus plant look more cluttered looking.

Now, I guess I will keep the "weeds" for the black swallowtails. I see swallowtails occassionally in my backyard, so I guess I know why now.

The black swallowtail cats are cute looking like the monarch cats. Cream color with black and white.

At this point, I'm not sure if I have facilities or enough of that host plant to try to raise them inside. Although there seems to be plenty of the weed in my citrus plants.

I wish that I had some way to put a screen over them to keep birds out, but allow them to get out when they want.

[Mona Miller]

I think I remember that Texas has up to 250 species of butterflies.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/map?ds=44&_dcs=1
USGS Butterflies, Texas

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/spec ... e=48*Texas
Black Swallowtails

Unfortunately, if the butterflies can get out the predators can get in. That large cage from Educational Science would hold a small tree.

[Mona Miller]

I use Bronze Fennel as a host plant. I love it. Last a long time in water and returns (perennial). You can also clip Queen Anne's Lace. If you do it early in the morning or late in the evening and put it into water, it will hold up for up to 2 weeks. Rue is another host plant for them and also a host for the Giant Swallowtail.

Do you ever get Giant Swallowtails on your citrus?
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/spec ... e=48*Texas
Giant Swallowtails (They look exactly like bird poop. I tell the kids they start out looking like hummingbird poop and then when they are ready to pupate, they look like Eagle poop.)

[texas butterfly]

Found 8 last night. Don't know what happened to #9.

Then this morning, only find 4.

I looked along fence line and there are about 3 old pupas that appear had something hatch from them, but think it was too early for the first 5. But, maybe they have pupa'd somewhere or a predator has found them and has been snacking on them.

My wilkweed had more orange bugs on them and found them to be the assassin type. I squished them. I think that I found at least one Monarch egg, so I am going back this morning to look for more and will bring them in.

I've put them in container and have brought them in.

If they are running low on the food, what can I use to feed them.

Is they've been eating dill or fennel, can they be switched to other host plants foods.

Is it safe to get parsley from grocery store, even after washing it?

Any thoughts or tips are appreciated?

[texas butterfly]

While working and weeding this morning, found #5 about 12 feet from host plant.

Went and picked some weed for him and he seems happy again.

I think it is either dill or fennel.

I suspect the others may have wondered off too and got lost. If I could find some more host plants to quickly plant today they might find them and start feeding again. They could be on other side of big pot also and just sitting still since they are molting.

I think though it is going to take some more food/plants though.

[texas butterfly]

Haven't seen in Giant Swallowtails. But, only increased my interest in butterflies this past month.

I've seen buckeyes, etc...

I've seen some huge butterflies but couldn't tell you what they were.

I'll have to go back thru my photos and see if they were the black or the giants.

Hope I have the right terms.

[Pixie]

Hi Texas Butterfly............Here in the St. Louis area I have had black swallowtail's laying eggs on my parsley & fennel every summer. When the cats get big enough (about 2 inches) they leave the parsley & fennel and will travel about 50 feet to the back of my yard to find a tree to climb up on to form their chrysalis'. I have actually spent many hours watching them & photographing them traveling across my yard - sometimes it will take up to 6 hours to make the trip as they stop to rest now & then. Unfortunately, once they reach the back of my yard I lose track of them in the brush & they are very difficult to find on the trees. For the past 4 years I have only found one chrysalis on a tree as their chrysalis' is brown & blends in with the color of the tree. One year I raised 2 inside in my aquarium, feeding them fresh fennel everyday. They formed their chrysalis' on the side of the aquarium. However, when they enclosed, they were unable to expand their wings & they both died. I would like to try raising them inside again, hoping they might survive. Today (6/28) I saw a black swallowtail laying eggs on the fennel, which is gorgeous this year. So I will be on the lookout for eggs & cats. When handling the cats, they send up an odor from the Y formation on the back of their heads, thinking that we are predators. My grand-daughter & the little boys next door get a kick out of this & they just love petting them to get this reaction - it is a real stinky odor! But they are beautiful cats & don't seem to have as many predators as the monarch cats do. Good luck with your swallowtail cats.......

[Mona Miller]

Don't feed grocery store parsley. What is safe (supposedly) for humans is not safe for caterpillars. They must have organic food and some of the organics have organic pesticides.

They will use queen anne's lace, rue, parsely, dill, fennel.

This list is from my "The Butterflies of North America, A Natural History and Field Guide", by Dr. James Scott. It is a CD-ROM that I purchased from Amazon. You can copy text, but not photos.
"Hostplants (a or no letter, ssp. asterias; c, ssp. coloro; k, ssp. kahli; j, "joanae") herb Umbelliferae: Angelica ampla, atropurpurea, venenosa, Anethum graveolens, Apium graveolens, Conium maculatum, Daucus pusillus, carota (ack) (and var. sativus (a)), Cryptotaenia canadensis, Foeniculum vulgare (ac), Harbouria trachypleura, Heracleum lanatum, sp.(k) (rarely used), Levisticum officinale, Ligusticum scothicum, Berula erecta, Osmorhiza longistylis, Oxypolis canbyi, Pastinaca sativa (ak), Petroselinum crispum (ack), Ptilimnium capillaceum, Carum carvi, Cicuta maculata, bulbifera, douglasii, Sium suave, Spermolepis divaricata, Taenidia integerrima (aj), Thaspium barbinode (aj), Zizia aurea (kj), aptera (k) (main host of kahli and its form comstocki), Cymopterus panamintensis var. acutifolius (c) (occasionally), Tauschia parishii (c), arguta (c) (Hydrocotyle is doubtful because lab larvae refused H. umbellata and americana); herb and shrub Rutaceae: Thamnosma texana (a), montana (c) (usual host), Ruta graveolens (ac) (Penn., Ill., Ga., Mo., Tex., Mass., Calif.), Dictamnus albus. Larvae are attracted to the Umbelliferae oils methyl chavicol, anethole, anisic aldehyde, anisic acid, carvone, coriandrol, and sedanolid, and to the Rutaceae oil methyl-nonyl-ketone (V. Dethier); lab larvae will eat even Cosmos and Solidago (Compositae), which have similar oils. Umbelliferae plants produce certain chemicals, linear furanocoumarins (psoralins), to repel insects that try to eat them. Larvae are resistant to psoralins that kill other insects because the intestine and body rapidly detoxify and eliminate them, but angular furanocoumarins reduce larval growth (M. Berenbaum, P. Feeny, G. Ivie, and others); the psoralins discourage other insects, and some Umbelliferae species now produce the angular ones to discourage polyxenes. The psoralins actually increase the growth rate and decrease the mortality of polyxenes eating them (Berenbaum). J. Erickson and J. Scriber raised polyxenes on many other lab Umbelliferae; larvae grew 25 percent faster on cultivated than on wild Umbelliferae, probably because some insect-repelling chemicals, such as the angular ones, have been bred out of the cultivated species to make them more edible for people. P. polyxenes can survive on Magnolia leaves in the lab. Ssp. coloro larvae refuse Citrus, which P. zelicaon larvae eat."

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/spec ... e=48*Texas
Caterpillar hosts: Leaves of plants in the parsley family (Apiaceae) including Queen Anne's Lace, carrot, celery and dill. Sometimes plants in the citrus family (Rutaceae) are preferred.

[texas butterfly]

Had bought some parsley and dill at grocery store. I will probably use it in my own food.

At garden center, they promised that they don't spray their herbs, I was able to get the last plants that they had of dill and fennel.

I offered them the fennel and they are happily munching on it. I'm not sure if they took to the dill. It is called dill fennel. Both of the plants smell great.

The cats are around 2 inches long. The one that I found wandering this morning was probably one of the smallest. But, he is probably almost 2 inches long.

Several of the ones missing I believe were pretty large, so that is why I'm hoping they moved on to the next stage.

I noticed the two little yellow antenna things coming out and thought it was a warning signal.

But, I didn't put it close enough to smell.

It is dark in the kitchen now, and the black swallowtail cats have stopped eating.

Do the cats feed at night in the dark or do they take a break and rest at night?

[Mona Miller]

The caterpillars only rest when molting; otherwise, they eat and poop night and day.

With the Monarchs you can feed spanish pumpkin in the very last instar. There is info on the forum about that, but do not give it to earlier instars.

[texas butterfly]

How can you tell instars?

Do the black swallowtails also have the same instars....?

[Mona Miller]

Butterflies go through 5 instars before they pupate.

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarc ... nstar.html

[Pixie]

Yes, the swallowtails will go through instars just like all butterflies. When they first hatch they are black with a white band in the middle. I am not sure at which instar molt they turn to their green/yellow/black colors. I was told that some cats make their chrysalis on the fennel stalks but have never seen that. All of mine have left the fennel when it is time to pupate - and many do this when I'm not looking!!! I shall have to go back through my photos of the cat I took crawling through the grass to the back of my yard & hopefully can post one. This year I have hollyhocks, which I was told that the painted ladies pupate on - we shall see. The painted ladies do come to several of my flowers to sip nectar - coneflowers & butterfly bush & sedum in particular.

You have really gotten into this!! It is a passion of mine & I have gotten my next door neighbor involved in planting for the butterflies now. It is so very important to raise the awareness of saving the butterflies, so spread the word.............

Dottie (Pixie)

[texas butterfly]

Thanks Pixie.

Yes, this is vey addicting and exciting. I said only Monarchs, but I'm finding that may be easier said than done. Don't think queen would read sign that says "Monarchs only".

My 5 swallowtail cats seem to be doing good. Two have climbed to top of tent and look like they are ready to PUPAte.

So, I expect to the see the interesting next phase soon.

The other 3 cats are gorging on the fennel. They seem to like it better than the dill.

I think butterflies are infectious. There are so many aspects of the butterfly that are truly amazing and interesting.

I'm hoping to spread the word about butterflies and how important it is for us to plant for them and to not use pesticides. Hopefully there are some adult as well as children programs I can develop. Awareness is the key. Maybe I can get some members of my family also interesting in planting and creating habitats for the butterflies and other animals.

So if each of us can get at least one other person interested in the butterfly and so then the butterfly will have more opportunties to grow and thrive.

[Pixie]

Perhaps you might contact your neighborhood elementary school. The lower grades very often study the life cycle of butterflies in the spring. So far I have given a presentation to my grand-daughter's kindergarten class in April of '08 (and she lives 50 miles from me ). But she kept telling her teacher about Grandma D's butterflies so the teacher called me. This past spring I gave a presentation to my neighbor's son's second grade class. I enjoyed both immensely & the kiddoes really knew all about the butterflies - they were amazing!

[texas butterfly]

I'm thinking of doing some programs at the local library.

I also spoke yesterday to a local garden center and they may have some interest.

I'm thinking of setting up booth and having demos, etc.....

Seems that it would be neat to have cats from several different butterflies on display and maybe pupas and eggs. Also, information to pass on about planting butterfly gardens, host plants and nectar plants.

I'd like to attract some other swallowtails since those catepillars are so cool looking......

[dandjtaylor]

It is interesting, the preferred choices sometimes that the females make as the host to oviposit on...I have hundreds of host plants, including for the Black Swallowtail, carrot, dill, bronze fennel, rue, golden alexanders and parsley. While the cats will happily eat all of the the offerings, I so far have only gotten eggs off of the dill. I watched her one night going from plant to plant and finally fluttering over the dill, right beside a beautiful bronze fennel. Sure enough, four eggs on the single dill, none on the fennel.

I don't quite understand it, but it makes for an interesting and entertaining hobby.

They are a beautiful cat in the last instar as well.

Dwayne
Salem, MA
Waystation #2638

[Mona Miller]

I have parsley and fennel. These hold up better in water if you need to cut them, but I usually plant the parsley and pots and then I can place it inside a container. They also use the herb Rue and my house, but you have to take care with it. Wash your hands after touching. It can cause a second degree burn. Rue is also the host for the Giant Swallowtail.

Monarchs also show a preference for hosts from year to year. Some years they will use the butterfly weed, other years they won't touch it. Some years they prefer to lay on the topical, then swamp, then common. Those are most of the offerings I have for them. I do have some vining milkweed
Cynanchum laeve (Sand Vine [Blue Vine] Milkweed)

http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/guide/index.htm
Index of photos of milkweed
http://www.monarchwatch.org/milkweed/guide/cynan.htm
Cynanchum laeve (Sand Vine [Blue Vine] Milkweed)

[drexel.n@gmail]

I also am finding the appetite of my cats interesting. They will only eat the swamp weed and refuse the butterfly weed. They are so amazing to watch! And they are getting quite plump. They weren't eating at all this morning - perhaps a molt is on it's way? Altho' for the last molt, they climbed up on the walls of their container and this morning they were on the bottom on a leaf.

Is it bad to throw the frass out into the garden instead of into the trash? I fertilize with tadpole poop and wonder, since they only eat milkweed, if there is any reason I can't throw cat poop into the garden, too?

I have 2 seedlings each of showy and tropical growing, but they are a long way from feeding anyone. And I am trying to get some common growing from seed, but it has not germinated yet. My joe pye will be blooming in about a week to 10 days. Woo hoo!

Nancy
Cincinnati, Ohio
WS3037

[Mona Miller]

The butterfly weed doesn't have as much toxin so they have to depend on their toxic cousins who eat other more toxic milkweeds for protection. It also has rough and harry leaves.

You might be able to find some common milkweed growing along the byways or in the fields. Where ever you stop, make sure it is safe. I wear boots and take along a tub of water. If you can find a place to dig rhizones they can be planted and will grow more mature plants fast. Whatever you do, do it legally. If you see a farm that has milkweed, ask permission first. Many farmers want to get rid of the milkweed.

[drexel.n@gmail]

Thanks, Mona. I had someone tell me last week that common does not transplant well and that I should try seeds. The friend that got me into all this has some growing at her house, so I will try to gather some at this week's dinner and see how I do. I've never done very well with seeds, so rhizomes can't be worse.

[texas butterfly]

I think that one of the black swallowtails is getting ready to PUPA on the top of tent.

Two others seem to be hanging out in the dill-fennel plant.

I just took a 3 or 4 inch pot with the plant and stuck the whole thing in the tent.

A couple of cats finally found it an have been there since. I suspicious that they are trying to also PUPA.

The other 2 are still gorging on the fennel.

I guess I'll name my 5 Black Swallowtail Cats, the FAB FIVE.

[texas butterfly]

My 1st swallowtail cat became a butterfly this evening.

Interesting thing is he/she doesn't really match a black swallowtail coloration.

The catepillar definitely looked like a black swallowtail.

There seems to be more orange on the butterfly than just the couple of dots that I see in the books.

I'll try to get photo.

[texas butterfly]

Of course, the ventral view and the dorsal view are different.

When I see the dorsal view, the butterfly looks like the black swallowtails in my book.

Of course, they don't show the ventral view in the book.

[texas butterfly]

Also, just determined that the first one to be released is a MALE.

This is due to the extra line of yellow seen on the dorsal view.

Seems to be very easy to determine sex on the black swallowtails.

[Mona Miller]

Male pupae are also smaller. You will see that the female is larger, too when she emerges. I think it is because the females have to carry the eggs so she needs more wing power.

[texas butterfly]

2nd Swallowtail also arrived this afternoon.

Male....

From Mona's comment about size, since all the PUPAs look the same size, I'm betting they are going to all be males.

Will release him tomorrow morning.....

[Mona Miller]

I guess we will have to see. There are also small female swallowtail pupae. I've been told the ratio is 50/50, but yesterday, I had 6 male Luna and only 1 female Luna emerge. Usually, the males will emerge before the females because in the butterfly species the males need to tank up on minerals. You'll see a puddle group on the ground (usually wet and muddy) and most of the time they will be all males. The males pass about 10% of their body weight in minerals and salts to the female during mating. This gives the female needed nutrients for laying eggs.

[texas butterfly]

Released the 2nd swallowtail this morning. He took off and shot back over the house. Didn't want any more pictures taken.

Then I came back in house to get ready to go to work. Brought all the swallowtails, 3 remaining in the tent back in the house. About 20 minutes later, walked in kitchen and saw that the 3rd swallowtail had arrived. Looks like #3 is another male.

Should be releasing him tomorrow morning.

It is sad but also happy at the same time releasing the butterfly and hoping that he can find a mate and help generate more butterflies to color this world.

[Mona Miller]

The best that I can figure is that the adults can make it better than the eggs, larvae, or pupae. That is how I rationalize raising them. Also, it's a lot of fun, but work, too.

[Pixie]

Just to let you all know that I currently have 2 black swallowtail chrysalis' in house - the cats both pupated this past week..........have taken some photos & will post soon.............

[texas butterfly]

Pixie that is awesome.....

I have now released 4 of the 5 black swallowtails.

The first 3 were males.

The 4th one was a female.

I'm almost predicting using the info that I learned that the fifth one might be female.

Waiting now for tent to clear so I can put some Monarchs in the tent.

The PUPA for #5 just turned a little darker, so I'm thinking it is in a few days.

[texas butterfly]

My 5th swallowtail just came out this morning. Can't tell if male or female yet.
Butterfly looks good and wings have fully fluffed out. Butterfly just is not flapping them yet, since I probably caught this process a few minutes after butterfly came out.

The past 2 days, I could tell it was getting nearing since the PUPA was getting darker.

I noted the 2 hours to allow wings to dry, so release won't be til tomorrow morning.

[texas butterfly]

Released my 5th and final Blackswallow tail butterfly.

Interesting observation.

All of the black swallowtails flew out and headed the same direction which is towards the rising sun in the morning. Back over my house.

I have released all butterflies in my back yard where most of the nectar plants are and a couple of small trees.

The Monarchs all seem to so far be flying away from the sun when I release them in the morning.

Just an interesting observation. Does anyone know if this just coincidence or if there is logic to it in the minds of these butterflies?

[Mona Miller]

I know that the sun comes up in the East. I know that the Monarchs travel north in the spring and summer. So, my best guess is that they are on their way north.

Tell them to take a detour east and visit me.

[Pixie]

Just to let you all know, a beautiful male black swallowtail enclosed today at 1:30pm in the aquarium. Once his wings dry I will release him out in the garden. I expect the second chrysalis to enclose Wednesday - once I release this one I will sterilize the cage & bring in the next 2 cats that are out on the fennel.............am always so excited about this...........

[texas butterfly]

Did you get a boy or girl?

Boys (Males) have a line of yellow on tops of wings. The top view.
Can't remember the correct, Dorsal or lateral view.

[Pixie]

It was a boy...........I released him at 4:45pm & he flew away without difficulty...........

[Mona Miller]

I raised about 7 Black Swallowtails and they have also been emerging this week. I let 3 females go this morning. A couple of days ago, it was males. I've read that the males will usually emerge first and then the females because the males need to mature. They'll be down at the mud puddle tanking up on minerals waiting for the females to emerge. The males pass about 10-13% of nutrients when mating with the females. This helps with egg lay.

[Mona Miller]

Two more females today. Their abdomens look plump with eggs. I hope they have a chance to mate and lay some eggs. My fennel is tall and not being used much.

[Pixie]

Today I found a bl. swallowtail chrysalis on the fennel - unusual as this is the first time I have found one on the fennel..........usually they go out to the woods to spin the chrysalis. Anyway, I cut it off & brought it inside & tied the branch it is on to the top screen of my aquarium..........It should enclose in about 10 days. In the meantime, since we are expecting t-storms tonight I brought in my potted tropical milkweed - it has at least 5, maybe more, monarch cats............I suppose I could have left it outside but I want to protect these babies...............

[Mona Miller]

I know how you feel. I have probably 200 Pipevine Swallowtails inside in containers. I don't know how I am going to feed them. But, I'll figure it out.

[Mona Miller]

I released another Black Swallowtail (pump, female). I haven't seen any come back to lay eggs, yet. I did have a little talk with her before she left. I saw a European Hornet cruising my yard. I've seen them take down Tiger Swallowtails. It makes me feel sick just thinking about it.

I saw a lone second instar Pipevine Swallowtail in the morning, but by the afternoon the European Wasp had chopped it in half. Now, I am bring in all that I find. They aren't lasting long outside.