What a great discovery! I'm guessing they'll be big eaters since other swallowtails seem to be. If you're not sure that your new plants can support them, I would start taking trips to local parks and find some more spicebush to feed them in the meantime.

Congratuations on your find!
Kim

Congrats! Aren't they cool looking!

The first year I planted my spicebush seedlings they got completely defoliated and I was worried that it would kill them but it didn't. They came back just fine the next spring.

If you run out of leaves, sassafras might be easier to spot since the leaves are unusual. You might see it growing in fencerows.

I haven't found any Spicebush cats on my spicebush or on my sassafras this year. I found a few leaves that were folded with nothing inside. I think something is getting them when they're small, maybe spiders. Needless to say, I have extra leaves if you need some. They wouldn't be very fresh by the time they get to you so it would be better to find some locally if you can.

Oh thanks Christie! I forgot that the Sassafras would do. I think there is some of that in my neighbor's yard. I think that she also has a couple of small Spicebush plants. So, she won't mind if I use those too. I'm really excited about the find. I never expected to see them this year. I also have my first Gulf Frit cats on Passionvine that I planted this year. Just goes to show that getting those host plants out there in the yard is so important.

Thanks Kim! It really WAS a great discovery. I never expected to find them this year on such small plants. Makes me wonder if the plant may not be widely available in my area. Makes me happy to be able to help them out.

Anybody with any advice or tips on raising these guys???

I raise mine on Camphor tree leaves but I originally planted a Red Bay for them. They prefer the Camphor. As far as raising them, they are pretty easy going. They will stay put in the same curled up leaf for a couple days if they don't eat from it. When they get too big, they will move to another leaf. Of course they like new growth and they go through a couple of the bird dropping instars before they turn green, that's when they get the false eyes. That's also when they really start to eat. Just before they go make their chrysalis, they will turn orange!
The chrysalis looks similiar to other Swallowtails in shape. I love raising them. They do purge also before making their chrysalis. I think they are one of the most beautifully colored Swallowtails, both male and female.

I find my cats/eggs on sassafras, which they'll eat interchangeably with spicebush leaves. It's hard to find decent leaves at this time of year, but you might find some sassafras trees/bushes with new growth here and there, which what they prefer, at least when they're in their early instars. VERY new growth leaves don't stay fresh in water for long, unfortunately. I always wash the leaves before feeding them, since all kinds of undesirable things can be on the leaves.
I guess yours are brown now, but they turn green with eyes, then purge before pupating when they turn yellow, orange or yellowy orange.
Good luck!
Sherry

Thank you, thank you, thank you! This was just what I needed. This is my first time trying to raise these guys, and I don't want to get it wrong. The Spicebush leaves are holding up pretty well so far. I have them in a floral tube, and I snipped the ends a wee bit after a couple of days. The cats are just soooooooooo small and so secretive. I caught one of them out eating yesterday and snapped a pic. It's pitifully tiny really. I keep waiting for them to grow. How long from the time they hatch to pupation? 2 weeks? more? I think that I may well be able to find some Sassafras around here somewhere. I have raised a lot of Black SWT's and am familiar with the purge. I have 4 SB cats and 1 egg. Take a look at the pitiful little guy.

Here is a link that might be useful:

That looks like a hatchling - it hasn't even made the leaf fold yet -
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I've never written down dates, but I'm pretty sure it'll take more than 2 weeks, more like ?3 weeks? for your cat to reach pupation. Like tiger and palamedes swallowtail cats, they're a bit lethargic, so don't expect much action! :)
Sherry

Be careful, the older cats will eat the smaller cats.

Ok thanks guys. I did see that I had one pearly egg on one of the leaves. Maybe that little guy came from that one egg. They are so small now that it's hard to imagine them the big ole cute bruisers with the eyespots, but I know it will happen.

bandjzmon... Awesome pics !!!

Oh, thanks very much rsingley! I am assuming you mean the Phtotbucket pics? I don't have too many posted over there, but there is a smidge of what goes on in my yard. I am fortunate to be blessed with lots of wonderful nature experiences. I try hard to be a good steward of the creation. :o)

I enjoyed looking through your album too Bandjmom, but didn't see any picture of a SST hatchling?

Thanks terrene. I'm so sorry. I went ahead and deleted that pic because I only put it there so that someone here could take a look. The little cats areso small that you cannot properly see them anyway! I will try to snap a couple pics of them today and then post them here. Maybe they are big enough to show up in a pic now.

I uncurled one of the leaf shelters today and found a little cat that has actually grown a bit! Check him out.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Hmmmmm...I am so far unsuccessful in finding some Sassafras, and I know that I don't have enough Spicebush to raise 5 cats. Once they really start eating, I know how fast the food goes. I noticed that I see mention of the Tulip Tree (Yellow Poplar) as a possible host. I just happen to have a couple little 3-4ft seedlings in pots, and they have new leaves all the time. They were volunteers that my dad dug from his yard and gave to me, so they did not come from the garden center. Should I try it?

I've never found a spicebush cat on tulip poplar, so I doubt it's a favorite, but you can certainly try it. I'd keep looking for sassafras, though - although magnolias and laurels aren't far apart on the botanical family tree, laurels are still the preferred host plants.
Sherry

Ok thanks Sherry. I am going to go on a little walkabout today and see if I can find one.

I watered the little Spicebushes today, and then took a couple of clippings as my originals are wilting now. Wouldn't you know it? One of the clippings has another little cat on it. Oh no! Don't need anymore mouths to feed when the food supply is nominal.

Hello! I am very excited for you! I planted Spicebush 4 years ago and finally last weekend I found my first cat curled up in a leaf! I have always had lots of SB butterflies but they must use a native plant here in Ohio more than my planted Spicebush....I have a question...I brought him in and gave him fresh leaves each night...he then turned into the "orange stage" and then formed his resting silk and has been resting in the chrysalis position for over 24 hours without shedding his last skin to reveal the chrysalis underneath. Is it unusual for it to be taking this long to shed the last skin? Should I be worried? I am a nervous mom!
Thanks you! Joan

The swallowtails always take more than 24 hrs. here. I've never timed it, but I'd guess 36-48 hrs. is typical.
Don't worry, your cat is normal! :)
Sherry

Thank you Sherry!
I was waiting with camera in hand last night and finally went to bed...I was concerned when I woke up this morning and he still hadn't changed...I am anxious to retun home from work and see how he is doing! Thank you for easing my mind! This has been an awesome year for butterflies!
Joan