For several years I have planted fennel as a host plant for the Easter Black Swallowtail Butterflies to lay eggs on. Fennel, dill, parsley and Queen Anne's Lace are the host plants that feed black swallowtail caterpillars, so that is where the female butterfly lays her eggs. For several years my cannas outcompeted the fennel for space in the garden so the fennel's growth was limited. This year, however, the cannas didn't come back and the fennel grew to six feet tall. That's when I noticed caterpillars, lots and lots of caterpillars. In fact, there were so many caterpillars that there isn't much fennel left.
 |
| The caterpillars's job is to eat and grow until it is time to pupate. |
 |
| The chrysalis, where metamorphosis takes place. |
 |
| Adult Eastern Black Swallowtail -- male. |
To see the Monarch Butterfly life cycle, and photos of a butterfly emerging from the chrysalis, see my post dated September 29, 2016, called Miracle of Monarchs.
