Black Swallowtail

Sighting Date: 
August 30, 2006

Garry Kessler photographed black swallowtails as they progressed through their life-cycle (click on an image for a larger view, hover over the small image for a description).


'''We had two fall crops of Eastern Black Swallowtails on our parsley in Westboro. We decided to raise them but on Queen Anne's lace instead of our parsley. The black and white caterpillar is the first instar before it sheds its skip the first time. By 8/10/06 the caterpillars had grown to their black, green and yellow form. By 8/19/06 they were forming chrysalis which took on the color of their background and On 8/30/06 we had both male and female butterflies.'''

Young Larva''' src= The caterpillar sheds its skin''' src= The mature larva displays its osmeterium''' src= The chrysalis''' src= The chrysalis''' src= A female black swallowtail butterfly''' src= A male black swallowtail butterfly''' src=