Those are beautiful. I know nothing about caterpillars so I can’t help you with this. Thats so cool!

stunning colors

Very nice! They look pretty big, so hopefully they have enough time to get ready. They will stay in their chrysalis over the Winter.

iris, i didn't know they can survive the winter here... the parsley will die down soon so i hope they get going in building their chrysalis!

thinking they are black swallowtails. i hope they survive!!!

i am going to put a metal cage around them to protect from mice and birds. hopefully i will have beautiful butterflies in the Spring!!

Such a pretty caterpillar!

I hope they survive. It does seem very late to see them.

I have a bird (wren) that has built a nest and appears to be nesting now in our garage on a high shelf. Dang it! It seems like her biological clock is messed up too. Maybe it was the 90 degree weather we had up until a couple of weeks ago.

Yes, Papilio polyxenes, commonly called the Black Swallowtail butterfly. Don't feel bad if a bird spies the chrysalis and makes it a protein-rich snack.

You could bring it indoors with plenty of parsley to see it through the next phase and then let it overwinter indoors.

https://monarchbutterflygarden.net/how-to-overwinter-swallowtail-chrysalis/

Yes, make sure you overwinter the crysalis outdoors or it will emerge in the winter when all the flowers are dead.

The chrysalis must overwinter OUTDOORS! As above if you bring it inside it will think it is Spring and emerge and have nothing to eat!

Cool find!

I saw a huge caterpillar crossing my driveway last week. I wish I had taken a picture of it. It was about 4" long and tan in color. Not fuzzy, although it may have had a few hairs. I just watched it cross and made sure the dogs didn't step on it or bother it.

That is just beautiful. Hope they survive the winter and gift you with butterflies come spring!

I love how mother nature created critters to blend in so well in their home.

We get some type that's all white and fuzzy. Last summer one of my grands broke out in a rash all over..turns out it was from the fuzzy caterpiller. He didn't touch it but was looking at it and it was a windy day.

Beautiful picture you've shared. Thank You.

The Eastern Black Swallowtail caterpillar is my absolute favorite. Such beautiful colors. They're little stinkers...so cute the way they nibble top down at ravenous pace.

Whenever I've seen swallowtail caterpillars in the past they're almost always on the parsley for some reason. I know that's not the only plant the eggs are laid on but around here it seems to be their favorite.

i had them on my parsley all season!! they are just so pretty. hope they make it through the winter!! will post if they do :)

We see them on wild 'Queen Anne's Lace" and other carrot relatives which are common roadside plants around here but unless you raise a gaden with carrots or parsnips, parsley or possibly cilantro in an herb pot will be most likely site.