![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqfI0mSSpcEBqJwDTGohZFVtn3y4QbF2nOUL84-7-O0h6YNMRxO_5UIG79aiy_LPac8s5ie1_anVHTsUbYhDo1ukimbFmmClt8DHcUdYjHdJx5W7vhpOFX4WjCfRrWFLBcSwkwU1wJdR5/s400/144.JPG)
This happens every year.
Caterpillars feast on my parsley.
When they finish off the parsley,
they move on to the nearby fennel.
After shooting the pictures,
I did a little research on caterpillars
since there looked to be several different types here.
They're all Black Swallowtails
in different stages of their life cycle.
There's a little black one at the top right
with a white patch.
This is the first instar stage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPi2y6vunZK1ORt2asoAxVMX3ohwLYHHAwimMwP1Pw6YdxN12HvVooew0XFlv3a1lLhN7X-IFOgwQrIjF1Zc-F-GuIy6BxN0BlSfgOJGe-bQ3BTgO1cPW8WFRblq1aEFtMIW1AfaKjmnv/s400/145.JPG)
Not to worry.
They'll never eat all the parsley I have.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZWOQicq5eXWUhUsJstjitl4J_6WUuJfy9fXVho9BGKAOXTEP8vfsqPDVLaqOumvFeLjANvzjtlb1NTEdSZ4FVMV_4zcVfiRxiZhgwMgbQNfUY7EGH_ABa1lWyuH3nVn0OTKxh3CIDSVT/s400/146.JPG)
The black one top right is the second instar stage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxeuqx04_HXx1bmMB28kvjgBPQs_aPN1hnTbMb3yukO0UKP0Mf8aKv-QpJJgq6gF2fClvJb6VYXvSPIJmykWqK2W3gWrqHE2BjkgEvFDMc_1FYN0ieYliBE3NUdxoxkGrlZ0DaAULgiQ3r/s400/147.JPG)
The black one on the left is the third instar stage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGanlwVuNoDSh50CM__6BziwGljF18RVO_qZYACswPHYz_kcSdRG5IZ2UrqTLvjVcq8ybCNgXIoBTESUL70zQ6Efmu-zniMGm6Z9scc5m4TUkSd0KlQouS6h3WYemE1XzZoC6hyLmimMm/s400/148.JPG)
Instar refers to the developmental stage of arthropods
on their way to sexual maturity.
Caterpillars will molt several times as
they outgrow their exoskeleton.
Black swallowtails have 5 instars
between hatching from the egg and time of pupation.
The number of instars varies among butterfly species.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6gU7JgRItch05k-af56YUMOOvixTWXy_NkOamNhR3BK2ml9JyDkFPGWHmA4Arb22gQPOaM_fdpUUui7fdxUQ9QtHU3MPMQShgtH3FExTQBk7DekyUR8k2Nkxzrmlzv-PEsPh2ETGnW9ku/s400/149.JPG)
The big one in the center with more green on it
is a full-grown caterpillar.
I think.
Maybe I should get one of my cages
and place it over my parsley plants with the caterpillars.
If they would pupate inside,
I could watch when the flutterbies emerge.
2 comments:
Very. Cool. Pics.
Thank you, Anony.
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