In case anyone is interested, the caterpillar in the foreground of the second picture in the first post WAS preparing to pupate. Here it is now. As you can see, the new pupa is mostly green, while the underside is yellow. I assume it will eventually all turn brown. The picture clearly shows the strand holding it to the stem of the parsley, and some of the caterpillar shape is visible inside. There is another caterpillar that is ready for pupation. It also has "gone still" and while the head remains attached to the stem as though it's holding on with its mouth, the portion of its body just below the head is curved outward, with the rest of its body tapering closer to the stem to where the bottom is still attached. I don't see any sign of the strand that will attach the upper part of its body to the stem, but maybe it hasn't done that yet. The pupation beyond this point is pretty rapid -- the one that's a pupa now took only one day from appearing like a large curved caterpillar "statue" and the pupa. The younger ones are still feeding and grasp the stems and leaves with all their feet, so they lie flat and move around. They can live for more than six months in the pupal stage, to emerge in the Spring. The parsley it's attached to will die with winter freezes, so I'll have to find a protected spot outside for this one and the other ones when they pupate.

I don't think it's a swallowtail, BG - it's most likely some type of moth. I find jillions of cats of all types and sizes wrapped up in leaves around here - I'm pretty sure they'll all make plain little moths. Sherry

I had a large pot of parsley on a picnic bench in the backyard since last year that didn't see a single BST caterpillar until it was well into the flowering stage, wouldn't you know. I was starting to think it wasn't going to happen, so I was a bit surprised to come outside one day and find caterpillars on it. I wound up getting more parsley and bringing two of them inside (I had never raised any inside before and didn't want to overdo it). Currently one of the two is in fourth instar (I think...I'm a little iffy on instars), and the bigger one has already assumed the J-position and will be pupating soon. The five outside seem to have lucked out with the predators so far. Well, down to four now...the biggest one seems to have finally wandered off somewhere. This post was edited by alex928 on Sun, Jul 6, 14 at 11:20

Thanks for all the kind words... it's very encouraging! However, its been 48 hours and he still is not climbing or eating. I do see his little body moving.. just a tad, almost like he is breathing ever so lightly. If he is going to form chrysalis- how long will it be before I can tell this is happening? Also, I bought him a butterfly garden habitat that is safe for him- but I am so afraid to move him now, should I wait to move him? Thanks again...