Oh, he will - he'll do a job on that fennel. Bronze fennel, IMO, is a 100% perfect plant - edible and fragrant, useful filler in flower arrangements, and best of all, host plant for swallowtail cats. I am waiting for them to show up here - butterfly population seems to be down a bit from last year; I think that may be due to the vicious spring storms.

That's a beauty mnwsgal!! Saw my first monarch of the season on the milkweed yesterday but it was shy and I couldn't get a picture. The milkweed is huge this year (due to all the rain?) and just began flowering about a week ago. The fragrance is awesome. I just might have to find a little spot for some fennel next year.

I have a tiny black swallowtail cat on the dill. I wish I was raising them, but not this year, maybe next. Your photo is great! They are so beautiful.

I hope a bird doesn't get him! They are fat tasty treats for the birds.

I had my first sighting of a Monarch adult yesterday too Gardenweed! However, 2 weeks ago I found 2 small caterpillars on the Common milkweed in my yard, so there was obviously a female here laying eggs. I didn't see her though. I collected the 2 caterpillars and raised them, they are in chrysalises now. :)

Butterfly season has started, a bit earlier than expected! Now just waiting for some more butterflies to lay eggs.

I had a dozen of those caterpillars on my fennel, but there are none now, after a week or so. Where would they have gone? Should I be looking for a chrysalis somewhere? Or is it likely birds ate them all?

I forgot I had seeds for bronze fennel. Too late now I guess. Maybe next year.

Karen

Merrygardens, the caterpillar in MNWs picture is 5th instar and close to pupating. If yours were that large, it is possible they have pupated. They will wander off to find a good spot, perhaps on a branch in a shrub, or under some bark on a tree. Their chrysalis is well camouflaged (google Black Swallowtail chysalis and you can see them).

They also could have been preyed upon. And the chrysalis can be preyed upon as well. One reason people raise butterflies is that their odds of making it to adulthood are much improved.

You're right, terrene, I'm afraid something got him. He was only about 1/2" long and he is gone.

Thats a great photo!! and visitor.

Striking caterpillar and beautiful photo!

I planted dill and Florence fennel that have continued to reseed in hopes of attracting BST, but I have yet to be lucky enough to find a caterpillar. (Florence fennel is different than bronze, though, isn't it? Maybe that's part of the problem.) The adults visit my zinnia, though.

W raised over 20 Monarchs last year, and we collected six eggs yesterday, four of which have hatched. So, though I would love to raise a BST, I will count my blessings that my family has the opportunity (and the milkweed and nectar plants) for Monarchs!

Here's a picture of one of our little guys:
{{gwi:422676}}