The other week, when I posted about the butterflies, I mentioned that I hoped the Tiger Swallowtail had laid some eggs in my carrots or parsley. But I wasn’t thinking… that’s the wrong kind of Swallowtail. Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars primarily feed on trees and shrubs in the families Magnoliaceae and Rosaceae, as well as other plants like birch, willow, and ash. Specifically, common host plants include tulip tree, sweet bay magnolia, and wild black cherry

The carrot family lovers are Black Eastern Swallowtails. They look like something like this:

This one is actually a Spicebush Swallowtail, but its close. You may recall that I had them frequently at the townhouse. In fact, it was my first interaction with caterpillars and chrysalises… though it didn’t end happily.

Interestingly enough…. I’ve never seen and Black Eastern Swallowtails here. Just the Tigers. So, imagine my surprise when I went out to inspect my carrots and found these guys…

There were about five in total, and already a good size. Almost ready to make their Chrysalises.

I had a couple last year, but much, much later in the year. And I still never saw the parent.

I’ve been checking on these guys every day, and one by one they’ve disappeared… gone off to find a good spot to become a butterfly. If I’m very lucky, I might find a chrysalis – but I’m not getting my hopes up. These ones are really difficult to spot.

But I did get lucky, and while I was out there on the weekend…

And got to see this ragged beauty. By the state of the wings… it’s quite possibly the parent. As I’ve noted before, Butterflies mate, lay eggs, then fly until they die.

And from the looks of things, this one only had a day or two left. I’m honoured it chose my garden for the next generation, and a place to spend it’s last days.

Now I just hope I can spot it’s babies as they emerge just as beautiful!