Two black yellow caterpillars eat dill together
I found these interesting caterpillars in my in-laws backyard. They're called Black Swallowtail Caterpillars. When looking them up, I learnt they can be found eating dill in gardens (like seen in this video I took).
What interested me was the vibrant colours but more so how quickly it chomped down on the dill. It reminded me of a rabbit eating a carrot!
Black Swallowtail Caterpillars grow through 5 different stages called instars over the course of 10-30 days. A young Swallowtail Caterpillar is black while an older one is green and can grow around 2 inches long. Around 9-20 days old, they form into a butterfly.
They are safe for humans to touch.
Hope to hear back from you.
Best,
Corey
06/19/2023