I also have a bunch of EAstern Blacks on my dill, fennel, and parsley. Some I have brought in to raise because of the wasps. I have 5 Spicebush cats now, 10 GFs in chrysalis, about the same in Polydamas, 1 Giant Swallowtail. I have released a few Zebra Longwings but don't have any now. Monarchs and the rest of the Polys, Eastern Blacks and Gfs I have left out on their own. I did bring in 1 Sulphur cat to raise as well. I have seen others on my Cassia and I found a couple larger Long Tail Skippers on my Butterfly Pea Vine. Like you I don't see that many butterflies but they must be coming when I'm not looking!

I have the opposite situation. I'm seeing lots of butterflies, but not many caterpillars. I'm jealous, Mary, you always seem to have a lot of the Eastern Black Swallowtails. I have only seen three cats this year and I have lots of plants for them to lay their eggs on. The wasps must be getting them. I just purchased four bronze fennels and planted them in different places in my yard. They seem to be the preferred plant.

I have lots of milkweed and I see monarchs pretty much all the time, but I'm not seeing cats. They must be surviving some place where I don't see them.

Here are the cats. You don't get the full impact with the picture but there are close to 30 there.

laura ~ Cats really went to town on my fennel, and last night I went out to pick some parsley for supper, and there were several fatties there chomping away. I also see the sulphurs laying eggs on the cassia, I see fritillary cats on passion vines also.

Here are some pics. The first is my shed garden and you can see the fennel, the airy plant lower right, the rest are the cats on the fennel.

This is a neat thread. Let's see more cats.

FlowerLady

{{gwi:885980}}

{{gwi:885981}}

{{gwi:885982}}

{{gwi:885984}}

Tom,
Yeah, I did see a female this morning on my Golden Dewdrop. Then she flew over to my herbs to lay MORE eggs. I cut some Rue last night and stuck it in with the Dill in hopes they would move on their own to the Rue. Well, this morning they had. I am relieved as I have enough to feed them on the Rue. I have quite abit of Parsley but those plants are probably going to get more eggs now that the Dill is gone. I just bought 4 samll plants last weekend at USF but I really wanted them to grow first before they get eaten.

Laura,
I hope you do have more Parsley. They still look like they have a ways to grow. Imagine if they all make it, think of the next generation! Holy Moly!

Here are some of my cats.

I have lots of Polys. All sizes.

Big boy I am raising inside

Not as cute as most cats but He is sure saying "Leave me alone" with that head. I think it is a Long Tail Skipper. I usually just find tiny cats on my butterfly Pea vine.

Eastern Black Swallowtails, different colors, instars

Spicebush Swallowtail cat, early instar

Giant Swallowtail chrysalis

LOL! You haven't really gotten addicted to butterfly gardening until you have hit every known source for dill, fennel or parsley and have spent several hours and several gallons of gas! (Of course this was before over $4 a gallon gas) A friend just went through the search for more milkweed a couple of weeks ago. Now I try to grow a little in the screen in pool cage to have a little extra on hand.
Enjoy! Love all the pics!

I have gone so far as to mail plants with eggs on them to people with food! Remember, Tom? If you catch the Mama laying the eggs you can do Priority Mail and get them there by the time they hatch.

I do remember, Mary. Thanks again.

What did you get your spicebush swallowtail on? I have two spicebushes, one of them is very big and no cats. I think they lay eggs on the wild black cherry also, no?

I get most of mine on Camphor trees that showed up as volunteers AFTER we planted a Red Bay for the Spicebush Swallowtails. Go figure. I know they are invasive but we keep seedlings pulled up and DH cuts them way back so that they are more like shrubs than trees. I am sure some get laid on my Red Bay but forget finding them, its 20ft tall now! Sassafras is also a host. Wild Black Cherry is not listed in any of my books as a host, Tom, but that doesn't mean it isn't. I have been hoping to get a Palamedes since it also uses the Red Bay but I have never seen one in my yard. According to my book, Red Spotted Purples use Wild Cherry. I have never seen one of those either. Would love too.