Some insects really aren't welcome in the garden, but I'm willing to share my dill with the lovely monarch swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. (Thanks for the correction, Shala!) I spotted two of them in the dill earlier this week, when they were but little tiny things. They've really grown! The larger of the two is not quite as big as my pinky finger.
I thought it was convenient that they're facing opposite directions on their dill stem, so I didn't even have to move to get a backside, and a frontside photo!
We also have two American Painted Lady caterpillars in the dill right now, munching away. The Painted Lady's are a bit small for getting any sort of in-focus images of. I'll give them a couple days to grow -- they're about as long as lady bug larvae at this point -- and I will snap some pics when they get a bit larger.
And I keep meaning to get some new photos of the garden! It's been a month since my last update, and things have really changed! Maybe tomorrow... *grin*
Oh wow! I didn't realise that Monarch Butterfly caterpillars came with slightly different markings. I took photos of them in my Mum's garden recently here in Australia. Ours are stripey rather than spotty! Like you, we will share our garden with them, because we love them! This is my post, if you'd like to take a look. http://happysnapmichelle.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/my-mums-autumn-garden.html
Posted by: Michelle W | June 27, 2013 at 03:58 AM
Spectacular things. I can't help but think they would like devine made of ceramic materials and glazed in the apropriate colors mounted on something inedible and under glass..... it sorta looks like an aquarium shot too....I like it! Love, Dad
Posted by: Dan Wight | June 27, 2013 at 12:53 AM
Oh, I love these photos! but, they are not monarch caterpillars. Those only eat milkweeds, in all their many forms. What you have are tiger butterfly caterpillars. Take a poke at their head, gently, and they might put our their "horns" for you. :)
Posted by: Shala C. | June 26, 2013 at 11:54 PM
How lovely...as a caterpillar and as its next incarnation!
Posted by: gailanne | June 26, 2013 at 10:53 PM
They are very intering criters. If you have a lot of dill they will not do too much harm and them you get pretty butterflies!
Posted by: carol dee | June 26, 2013 at 09:21 PM
I love seeing your garden updates as well as your photos of all of the flora and fauna in your garden. :)
Posted by: Jennifer Woodward | June 26, 2013 at 06:58 PM
They are beautiful and I'm sure are grateful you let them nibble on your dill. ;)
Posted by: Val | June 26, 2013 at 06:31 PM