I just found this caterpillar in the fennel.  It's the Black swallowtail that I was telling you about.  It uses fennel as a host plant.  Another good reason to grow fennel in your garden.

 

Black swallowtail butterflies also lay eggs on other members of this family:  parsley, dill, carrots, queen Anne's lace:  Umbelliferae.  In my experience, the caterpillars like the particular food they grew up with.  I've tried to feed fennel to caterpillars I picked off of parsley, and they would not shift to another food from the same family!!  Very picky eaters.

 

We still like to put the fat caterpillars in a dry aquarium, feed them until they make their chrysalids, then watch as they emerge as adult butterflies.  So I either have to provide enough food to get them full grown, or leave them alone to fend for themselves, (probably the best way, definitely the easiest.) 

 

Either way, I know we are providing food for Black swallowtail butterflies.  Very exciting!!

 

I think I'll nab this one before a bird or praying mantis gets it.  He is just right for making a chrysalis, so I won't have to feed him for much longer.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!