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Post by Tucson Grower on Jan 25, 2023 18:52:43 GMT -6
I once observed one of these lay some eggs on one of my citrus tree, I believe it was a Valencia orange tree. I kept my eye out, and later observed an interesting larva, but I never spotted either again.
The larvae looked like a bird dropping ->
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Post by heavyhitterokra on Jan 25, 2023 19:12:20 GMT -6
Awesome!
God sure makes some cool camouflage. That butterfly was a sight to see after this week's cold, cloudy weather. I'll sure be glad when this drizzly mess has passed. Thanks, for posting that.
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Post by Tucson Grower on Jan 25, 2023 19:30:30 GMT -6
I may not get to see another of this species, but I'm planting lots of host plants for; Black Swallowtail - Papilio polyxenes. I have seen the adults feeding from some of my flowering plants, maybe I can host a few larvae, this season.
Parsnips, parsley, dill and fennel are the host plants I will attempt to grow, for them and myself.
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Post by FrostyTurnip on Jan 26, 2023 10:31:05 GMT -6
They are abundant here when I have echinacea, but no less stunning. I cannot wait for spring. I sure hope I can get some flowers going for these and many others.
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Post by Tucson Grower on Jun 25, 2023 16:00:34 GMT -6
I just noticed 5 larva on my tiny, 4 inch tall parsley plant. I'm pretty sure they're a species of swallowtail. I'm not sure their's enough food for any of them to make it. It seems the parsley doesn't like hot weather.
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Post by chrysanthemum on Jun 26, 2023 21:52:02 GMT -6
No, parsley doesn’t like hot weather. Since this message was written a day ago, it’s possible that those five little caterpillars might have demolished your plant already. Once they’re fourth or fifth in star, they would probably eat four inches of parsley in less than half an hour. If I wanted to raise them, I’d see if any nearby nurseries had big dill or fennel plants for a good price this late in the season. My black swallowtails seem to prefer dill, but they do go back and forth when I have supplies of one and not the other.
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Post by Tucson Grower on Jun 27, 2023 5:34:30 GMT -6
It's too late. I went out at 3am to do my watering, and they were all gone. It must have happened, right after the time I last checked them, about 3pm, yesterday. It was likely a bird or wasps. I'll have to make a note for the next time I spot any, I should take them inside or screen them and their host plant.
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