Q&A for How to Care for a Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

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I have 6 black swallowtail caterpillars in a container. They ate all of my parsley and started on basil. I am going to feed them parsley and hope they turn into butterflies. I would let them eat the basil, but found no info on whether they should or not - is this OK?

Community Answer

If your caterpillars are eating the basil, it is a high chance that it's fine. Most caterpillars would rather die of hunger than eat an unknown plant.

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I had 8 black swallowtail caterpillars in my fennel yesterday. This morning there were only three, and now, none. Where did they go? Do they travel to pupate? I'm worried.

Community Answer

There can be many factor a to why they have disappeared. 1. Predators could have found them to dine on. 2. They could have fallen from the fennel and found a new host plant to munch on. 3. Depending on the stage they are in, they could have searched out a place to form their chrysalis.

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Question

Yesterday I had 8 black swallowtail caterpillars on my fennel. Today, there are only 3! Where did they go?

Community Answer

They could have gone to another place in your garden or gotten eaten by some other animal. The possibilities are endless.

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Hi I found two of these guys in some parsley on my counter. Can I release them outside?

Community Answer

Yes. Take them to a nice patch of grass and release them.

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I found a caterpillar in my office. He looks very lethargic and appears to only have one antenna. What should I do when I take him home, especially when it gets chilly at night?

Community Answer

You should put him in a container with holes in the top (there are many bug containers available for purchase at you local dollar store). To make him more at home, put lots of little twigs and secure them to the side to let the caterpillar climb. Decorate the habitat with nonpoisonous, edible leaves that will serve double-duty in feeding the caterpillar and making it look like home. As for the cold, you could place him in the warmest place in the house.

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Question

What should I feed the caterpillar?

Community Answer

Leafy greens. You can feed leaves from the garden as long as you're sure they have not been treated with pesticides.

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We covered the plant our caterpillar is eating from with blueberry netting so the birds don't eat him. Will he be able to form a cocoon there on the plant? Are we trapping him in?

Community Answer

You could take of the piece of the plant off the stem and take him inside, set up a little habitat, and keep him until a cocoon forms and he turns into a butterfly. Most likely he feels trapped and stressed, and will eventually die.

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Question

It's September 21st and there is a black swallowtail caterpillar on my parsley. Is it too late in the year to take it in and raise it to a butterfly?

Community Answer

No. If it's out there, it will pupate, no matter what time of year it is.

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Question

Is there any way to move a black swallowtail chrysalis without hurting it?

Community Answer

If you just hold it gently and carry it very carefully it'll be fine. I've moved them many times.

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Question

What does a black swallowtail butterfly eat?

Community Answer

They eat nectar from clover and milkweed. They also eat plants from the carrot family.

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Question

What do I do if I don't have enough food for my black swallowtail caterpillars on my dill plant? Can I feed them something different?

Community Answer

I recommend making a trip to a garden shop and getting a couple more big dill plants for them to feast on. Mine were dining on the parsley; when they reduced it to sticks, they became listless. I ran to Home Depot to get them two big parsley plants, put them in a big pot, and transferred the caterpillars gently with a fat Popsicle stick to their new home. They are fat and happy and moving around in a lively way again. If you can, get organic to ensure no pesticide threat, as they are very sensitive to that.

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How long will black swallowtail caterpillars live for? Do they need to be brought in indoors?

Community Answer

They stay caterpillars for 3-4 weeks before starting to pupate. This is, of course, unless a predator gets them first.

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Question

I have a swallowtail caterpillar (still) although it is November and temperatures are falling below freezing. Not sure what to do. Will it survive outside in freezing temperatures?

Sreenithie SaravanaPerumal

Community Answer

It has a very high chance of dying in that temperature.Take it inside and grow it. Let it outside in summer.

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Question

Should I leave my caterpillar outdoors or take them inside?

Community Answer

If you wish to raise it yourself, then yes. It's fascinating to watch them grow. Follow the instructions on this page. If not, let it stay in the wild. They have a higher chance of dying though. Or they may leave and travel to a different plant. In the end you will most likely not see it again. However, this method is basically free and is much more natural. Do what you think is best.

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Question

How do I keep a black swallowtail caterpillar over the winter?

Community Answer

You must continue to feed them until they form their chrysalis on a stick or branch, after which time you can put them inside a safe container (like a plastic bin with a small mesh cut out) and leave them in your garage where it's cool but not frozen, like outdoors. If they choose to overwinter, they may be in there for 6 to 8 months! Once May rolls around, bring them back into your home or in a safe spot outdoors so you can monitor them. They will be born then.

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How do I care for my black swallowtail caterpillar chrysalis over the winter?

Community Answer

Follow the instructions above, and make a habitat for them. If it gets warm, then release it when ready. If it's still a little chilly out, you could buy some sort of reptile case and that might help.

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