I would spray one or more of my three favorite liquid organic protein sources. These include in order, milk, seaweed, and garlic juice. Milk is the easiest to find, seaweed is usually easy to find, and garlic juice usually has to be made. You make garlic juice by putting a pound of garlic in 32 ounces of water into a blender. Grind it to pulp and strain off the pulp for a neighborhood Italian dinner. Spray the juice on the plant. Dilute milk and seaweed at 2-3 ounces per gallon of water and spray. These materials work by feeding the microbes that live on the outside of the plant. These well fed microbes both protect the plant by themselves, but they also seem to stimulate the natural defense mechanisms of the plants to protect themselves. You also might sprinkle a handful of your favorite organic fertilizer under each plant. If you don't have anything very handy, you can use dog or cat food. Wet it so that the chunks melt into the soil.

Well, she is alive and back in community (hope it isn't contagious but needed space) Still active, and fed peas. Will try castor oil on pea again in case she is plugged up, but really looks like a growth such as tumour (castor oil a real purger). Only on one side so just think some sort of internal growth. Will watch, she is very active and acts and eats normally. Not bacterial I think or she'd be getting worse. I was wondering about being egg bound, but only one one side? hmm, time as always will tell. Meanwhile she is a happy camper in her big 20 gallon community. School of priscella tetras, with wood and large leaved anubias, low lights. New set up and have to say looks pretty nice. The tetras sparkle. Thanks one and all. Sherry

Yeah those little white round balls blend in well with the buds, they are eggs though! I usually just pick off little bits of the plant that the eggs are attached to and put them in a small container until they hatch. Then help them onto a potted plant if one is available or cuttings of whatever food plants you have. If using cuttings make sure the water container opening is blocked (use tissue or paper or something) so the little cats can't get into the water and drown. The eggs do darken just before hatching but that white color is what they look like at first. Usually I use a tiny piece of the plant to help the tiny caterpillar out of the container onto his food (you could squash them trying to pick them up). There is lots of info on this site, but I picked one post below where gcertain did a nice photo documentary of the BST cycle. Great egg pics. Good luck with them. Kelly Here is a link that might be useful: Black Swallowtail

I had that happen once and was told by more experienced Bluebirders that it may have to do with her being young. They had told me that a first year female may take longer. I would also ask if they have a second nest anywhere nearby? Sometimes they do build two complete nests and then take their time deciding which to actually lay in.