I started Black swallowtails by accident. I had dropped some fennel seeds on the sidewalk by my garden. I swept the seeds in to the Darden and they grew. Then I found baby caterpillars. I had a 20 gallon aquarium in my house that was planted with some house plants. I put the caterpillars and some fennel clippings inside. Next thin k knee is that I had butterflies. It has been exciting all these years later.
I love the fish tank idea!! Whether by accident or done intentionally, it's always fun to garden for butterflies. I think it's amazing how they show up when the food source is introduced. I haven't done much with them the past couple of years, but I hope to get back to them this summer. Thanks for sharing your story!
Helping them into the world is so rewarding for me!! I love this summer hobby. I've had about a dozen butterflies in the past week, and probably close to 2 dozen caterpillars in the enclosure right now! It's been busy here!
I started using Golden Alexander plants for the black swallowtails. They like shade and are perennials. They are doing really well here in Florida even with the heat, as long as in shade.
Great video. I raise Monarchs in a similar manner. Just wanted to let you know that misshapen wings are often a result of the chrysalis touching the sides of the enclosure. Mr Lund the Science guy has a great video on how to move them to prevent this if you’re interested
Thanks for the tip! I have an enclosure full of Monarchs right now! I had one emerge so far this year, and I hope all of the caterpillars in there now will make it.
Great video, interesting, informative, and calming. I had 3 big ST Cats on my parsley...sadly they all disappeared...at the time I had monarch chrysalis in my only butterfly house, so I didn't bring them in. I'll be getting another one for next spring. Here in Canada, the netted butterfly houses are double the price as in the US.
Either the birds got to the caterpillars or they went into their chrysalis and this late in the year, they won't emerge now until next spring. I think everything is double the cost in Canada. I seriously don't know how you all do it. The prices in the US are terrible as it is, but double that would make everything undoable here.
Thank you so much for this video! I found three black swallowtail caterpillars on my dill and parsley plants last night. And think I found 5 eggs on the dill plant. Will order the 'house' for them now, to start my nursery!
It's a really fun summer hobby!! If you can get small potted herbs in the nursery to rotate in the butterfly house, I do recommend that for the healthiest insects. Enjoy!
Pattymac Makes I did purchase additional herbs to rotate. One has decided to go off and start its next stage. The other two continue to eat (and poop!) and grow. Most of the eggs I found have hatched, so will be moving those into the ‘nursery’ later today or tomorrow. What a fun hobby to have while being quarantined!! 🥰
@@chicksrace2 They poop A LOT!!! ha ha!! I'm really happy you are enjoying this fun summer hobby. I have had no butterflies here this year, so I don't know what's going on. My flowers are very behind, so it's a strange year all around in the garden.
@@@PattymacMakes I have now found, and moved into the (15x15x23") Restcloud habitat 22 caterpillars. I still have my original 3 chrysalis in there as well. I have two plants in the habitat for them to feed and crawl around. But should I be getting a second habitat? Are they just going to be all on top of each other as get bigger? Thoughts?
This is fantastic! Thank you for sharing. I'm in North Alabama and just now seeing the butterflies and caterpillars! We also raise bluebirds. Usually two broods each spring. I'm so glad I found your channel. Tammy 🙋♀️
I love this idea! We get the snout nosed butterflies migrating in September in Texas and I may try to plant some items to attract them so maybe they will make a pit stop in my yard on their way to Mexico!
Artsy Cupcake i don’t know anything about that kind of butterfly, but you can search what they need for both food and host plants! I learned the Tiger Swallowtails I see here use the Tulip tree in my back yard as a host plant! So I already had that available for them, but adding the nectar sources via flowers creates a complete habitat for them! So you might already have some of what you need to attract them. You can also look into your local butterfly society or extension office for more information. Thanks for dropping by! 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Thank you so much for your help!! I didn't know where to start. I have a lot of butterfly eggs on my pepper plants and cilantro plants and I want to help them grow safe into butterflies. I am definitely going to do what you are doing with that safe house for them. Thank you once again, God bless you!
You're welcome!! I have been a lot more hands off the past couple of summers, but it is incredibly rewarding to raise and release butterflies. Otherwise, very few of them actually make it, and we do need to help our pollinators. Good luck!!
OMG!! Is there anything you can't do?? ( I mean this most respectfully). Your love for butterflies and providing a safe home for them touched my heart. I have plants in my garden to attract bees but now I will also focus on butterflies. Do you have problems with bees bothering the caterpillars? Thank you so much for this video. So good to "see" you.
You are so kind!! I really enjoy seeing the butterflies develop from caterpillars into their final form. If I don't. don't put them in the enclosure, the birds and salamanders get them all. Which is good for the bird and salamander populations but not great for the butterflies.
@@PattymacMakes Update: Found out that eastern tiger swallowtails are native where I live, and I happen to be outside and got to witness one laying eggs on a wild cherry tree! Collected a few of the eggs I can't wait to watch them grow!
@@utahblue3356 Make sure they have access to the food source. They need are being laid on the tree so the emerging caterpillars have food source when they hatch. Fresh is better which is why I started using live plants with my butterflies.
@@PattymacMakes Will do! I took like a branch cutting with a few eggs on them and stuck it in a yogurt container with water, hopefully by the time they hatch the branch won't be too wilted but I can always transfer them to a new cutting right?
Great video. I like that the caterpillar is able to attach itself to the enclosure to form its chrysalis. Do you recommend putting in a small upright branch in case they would rather attach to that?
Thanks Kelly!! Oh for sure! I have put twigs in the enclosure and sometimes they use them, and sometimes they don't. They all have their own personality and do what they want. LOL
I would like to know what you do when it rains and the bottom tray fills up with water, or when you water the plants in there... You do have to water them. Right?... Do you empty the tray of water?
I clean the enclosure out maybe once a week. Caterpillars poop A LOT so it gets pretty gross. I dump out excess water from rain and yes, I do water the plants. I put paper towels on the bottom of the enclosure now to help capture some of the poop and make cleanup a little easier. They get to be kind of a lot of work this time of year, but I'm always excited when I check the enclosure in the morning to find new butterflies! I had a Monarch and 2 Black Swallowtails today.
Hello Patty! Wonderful informative video. Your laugh is so infectious, love it. This is my first year gardening for swallowtails and so far I have nine babies. I started out with monarchs and I only got one last year. This year I bought parsley, dill and rue. I found nine eggs all the n the dill plants. I only have three plants of dill three parsley and one rue but nine mouths to feed. Will they transition to the other plants when finished with dill? Also I read that they’re cannibals, do they eat each other??? Thank you so much for the video.
They are eating machines!! If you have items they eat, then yes, they'll move on as they pick one area clean. LOL If you already have 9 cats then you will need a lot more herb plants. The height of season is August into September. I don't know if they eat each other, but it's plausible. It's ROUGH in the insect world. Enjoy and don't let them stress you out. They can be pretty demanding.
Bom dia, é a primeira vez que estou a comentar. Eu gosto de borboletas mas não faço criação porque gosto muito das minhas orquideas e elas já me dão muito trabalho diário. Tenho também as minhas alunas de pergamano, ceramica, de pintura acrilica, e encaustica. Estes são meus trabalhos diarios, mais o comercio de tintas e artes decorativas.Vou seguindo o seu trabalho, com muito gosto. Também gosto de colinária, sou eu sempre que faço as refeições diárias. um bom final de Agosto.
Do you leave the habitat out in all weather conditions, ie rain, thunderstorms extreme heat.Also do the caterpillars need a water source in the habitat or do they get it from the parsley? Thanks
I only put it away if there is going to be a hurricane or a big wind storm. I started putting a large terra cotta tray in the bottom and that keeps it in place. They are pretty tough so you need to let them do their thing. It doesn't help nature if you baby them along too much. You need them to be strong so they live to reproduce. I don't give them anything but the parsley. They are pretty amazing creatures!
Thank you so much! Mine are under a sheet of protective netting and I have been worried that only a few left, but now I know that is fine. Do I need to have special flowers for them or can they get by this year on whatever flowers are around? Next year I will be more prepared.
They nectar on all sorts of flowers. you r garden zone really indicates what you should plant. But overall zinnias and sunflowers and lantanas are great. I have a couple of pollinator garden videos and links to info if you are interested.
So super helpful omg I ordered what I thought was the net thing u have off Amazon.....I got a dang tiny like 8 inch version of it I'm so upset bc I can't fit my carrot pot in it (that's where they lay) so I'm now collecting the large ones and putting carrot leaves and parsley in a bunch in a baby food jar ( my first day trying this) so I'm hoping I get them to chrysalis. I only put 2 in there. Any advice will b great
OMG, that's so small!! I really need to add links for you to help with this issue. The larger enclosures are worth the investment. Make sure you have the plant material that is appropriate for the caterpillars. I stick to parsley for Black Swallowtail butterflies. They love it and they do well on it. Once you get your pieces in place, you will love this hobby! It's so rewarding. I have had about a dozen new butterflies in the past week.
I got a square mesh laundry hamper from Walmart that had zippers on top and the side. The hamper is made of mesh versus the net material, but seems to keep the wasps away. Good Luck!
Mark I'm sure you can do this even in the city. You should look into your Extension Office. Even NYC has a local extension, and they can probably help with letting you know what kinds of butterflies are in your area. It is a summer activity for sure. The butterflies are in hibernation or have migrated to a warmer zone at this point. So next year, try growing fresh parsley and dill where you can. I don't know what kind of access you have to outdoor space where you are. But if you're blessed with a little fire escape patio on a quiet courtyard, that would probably be ideal. It doesn't hurt to try, and the worst outcome is you have some fresh herbs to use in your food. Good Luck!
I started Black swallowtails by accident. I had dropped some fennel seeds on the sidewalk by my garden. I swept the seeds in to the Darden and they grew. Then I found baby caterpillars. I had a 20 gallon aquarium in my house that was planted with some house plants. I put the caterpillars and some fennel clippings inside. Next thin k knee is that I had butterflies. It has been exciting all these years later.
I love the fish tank idea!! Whether by accident or done intentionally, it's always fun to garden for butterflies. I think it's amazing how they show up when the food source is introduced. I haven't done much with them the past couple of years, but I hope to get back to them this summer. Thanks for sharing your story!
She is gorgeous!!!! Omg!!!! Will you look at her? And you let them go!!!! God bless you!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤
Helping them into the world is so rewarding for me!! I love this summer hobby. I've had about a dozen butterflies in the past week, and probably close to 2 dozen caterpillars in the enclosure right now! It's been busy here!
So beautiful. Love your close-up shots, wow!
Thank you!! I love macro photography!
Also, loved, loved, loved the intro of your video!!!
Thank you!!
Aw, Glad to see you, thank you for sharing.
Thank you!! I'm still around, just a little slow moving
I learned yesterday that the black swallowtail butterflies will over winter as chrysalis. It's so awesome you got to experience that. ☺️🐛🦋
Isn't that amazing!
I started using Golden Alexander plants for the black swallowtails. They like shade and are perennials. They are doing really well here in Florida even with the heat, as long as in shade.
That's a great tip!! Thank you for sharing. I'm not familiar with that plant so I'll have to look that up.
Great video. I raise Monarchs in a similar manner. Just wanted to let you know that misshapen wings are often a result of the chrysalis touching the sides of the enclosure. Mr Lund the Science guy has a great video on how to move them to prevent this if you’re interested
Thanks for the tip! I have an enclosure full of Monarchs right now! I had one emerge so far this year, and I hope all of the caterpillars in there now will make it.
@@PattymacMakes that’s fantastic! I hope they all make it too!!
Thank you! 💜💜💜
You're welcome!
Your video is so relaxing!
Oh thank you!
I enjoyed you and butterfly’s 🥰
I really appreciate that! Thank you!
Great video, interesting, informative, and calming. I had 3 big ST Cats on my parsley...sadly they all disappeared...at the time I had monarch chrysalis in my only butterfly house, so I didn't bring them in. I'll be getting another one for next spring. Here in Canada, the netted butterfly houses are double the price as in the US.
Either the birds got to the caterpillars or they went into their chrysalis and this late in the year, they won't emerge now until next spring. I think everything is double the cost in Canada. I seriously don't know how you all do it. The prices in the US are terrible as it is, but double that would make everything undoable here.
Thanks. I have them on my parsley. I hope they make it 😊
I'm sure they will!
Thank you so much for this video! I found three black swallowtail caterpillars on my dill and parsley plants last night. And think I found 5 eggs on the dill plant. Will order the 'house' for them now, to start my nursery!
It's a really fun summer hobby!! If you can get small potted herbs in the nursery to rotate in the butterfly house, I do recommend that for the healthiest insects. Enjoy!
Pattymac Makes I did purchase additional herbs to rotate. One has decided to go off and start its next stage. The other two continue to eat (and poop!) and grow. Most of the eggs I found have hatched, so will be moving those into the ‘nursery’ later today or tomorrow. What a fun hobby to have while being quarantined!! 🥰
@@chicksrace2 They poop A LOT!!! ha ha!! I'm really happy you are enjoying this fun summer hobby. I have had no butterflies here this year, so I don't know what's going on. My flowers are very behind, so it's a strange year all around in the garden.
@@@PattymacMakes I have now found, and moved into the (15x15x23") Restcloud habitat 22 caterpillars. I still have my original 3 chrysalis in there as well. I have two plants in the habitat for them to feed and crawl around. But should I be getting a second habitat? Are they just going to be all on top of each other as get bigger? Thoughts?
This is fantastic! Thank you for sharing. I'm in North Alabama and just now seeing the butterflies and caterpillars! We also raise bluebirds. Usually two broods each spring. I'm so glad I found your channel. Tammy 🙋♀️
I love this idea! We get the snout nosed butterflies migrating in September in Texas and I may try to plant some items to attract them so maybe they will make a pit stop in my yard on their way to Mexico!
Artsy Cupcake i don’t know anything about that kind of butterfly, but you can search what they need for both food and host plants! I learned the Tiger Swallowtails I see here use the Tulip tree in my back yard as a host plant! So I already had that available for them, but adding the nectar sources via flowers creates a complete habitat for them! So you might already have some of what you need to attract them. You can also look into your local butterfly society or extension office for more information. Thanks for dropping by! 🦋🦋🦋🦋
Thank you so much for your help!! I didn't know where to start. I have a lot of butterfly eggs on my pepper plants and cilantro plants and I want to help them grow safe into butterflies. I am definitely going to do what you are doing with that safe house for them. Thank you once again, God bless you!
You're welcome!! I have been a lot more hands off the past couple of summers, but it is incredibly rewarding to raise and release butterflies. Otherwise, very few of them actually make it, and we do need to help our pollinators. Good luck!!
this video is very interesting my favorite are the swallowtail. Lucas (6 yrs old)
Thank you Lucas! I hope you can plant some parsley this year and have butterflies, too!
@@PattymacMakes i will, thank u for comment! Lucas
Nice video I live in ft Lauderdale I raise mostly monarch butterflies but I get sulphur butterflies and swallowtail butterflies too
Thank you!! I get some Monarchs here but the Black Swallowtail is the most abundant.
Cool monarchs are more abundant here but I love them all
@@stanleystone49 I know!! I enjoy all varieties of them except the moths who lay eggs for caterpillars that eat my crops!
Lol I have moths that eat my tomato plants the moth is not pretty but it nature's way
OMG!! Is there anything you can't do?? ( I mean this most respectfully). Your love for butterflies and providing a safe home for them touched my heart. I have plants in my garden to attract bees but now I will also focus on butterflies. Do you have problems with bees bothering the caterpillars? Thank you so much for this video. So good to "see" you.
You are so kind!! I really enjoy seeing the butterflies develop from caterpillars into their final form. If I don't. don't put them in the enclosure, the birds and salamanders get them all. Which is good for the bird and salamander populations but not great for the butterflies.
I'm gunna try this!
It's so rewarding!! Find out what butterflies are native to your area and research the plants they need to lay their eggs. Good luck!
@@PattymacMakes Update: Found out that eastern tiger swallowtails are native where I live, and I happen to be outside and got to witness one laying eggs on a wild cherry tree! Collected a few of the eggs I can't wait to watch them grow!
@@utahblue3356 Make sure they have access to the food source. They need are being laid on the tree so the emerging caterpillars have food source when they hatch. Fresh is better which is why I started using live plants with my butterflies.
@@PattymacMakes Will do! I took like a branch cutting with a few eggs on them and stuck it in a yogurt container with water, hopefully by the time they hatch the branch won't be too wilted but I can always transfer them to a new cutting right?
Wonderful🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
Thank you!
This is so cute
Thank you!
Great video. I like that the caterpillar is able to attach itself to the enclosure to form its chrysalis. Do you recommend putting in a small upright branch in case they would rather attach to that?
Thanks Kelly!! Oh for sure! I have put twigs in the enclosure and sometimes they use them, and sometimes they don't. They all have their own personality and do what they want. LOL
@@PattymacMakes Good to know, thank you. Everybody should have options. I may set up a twig in my new habitat, just to remind these kids of that.
@@kellydanek702 It's fun to see where they wind up going! They will keep you busy though, so be ready!
I would like to know what you do when it rains and the bottom tray fills up with water, or when you water the plants in there... You do have to water them. Right?... Do you empty the tray of water?
I clean the enclosure out maybe once a week. Caterpillars poop A LOT so it gets pretty gross. I dump out excess water from rain and yes, I do water the plants. I put paper towels on the bottom of the enclosure now to help capture some of the poop and make cleanup a little easier. They get to be kind of a lot of work this time of year, but I'm always excited when I check the enclosure in the morning to find new butterflies! I had a Monarch and 2 Black Swallowtails today.
Hello Patty!
Wonderful informative video. Your laugh is so infectious, love it. This is my first year gardening for swallowtails and so far I have nine babies. I started out with monarchs and I only got one last year. This year I bought parsley, dill and rue. I found nine eggs all the n the dill plants. I only have three plants of dill three parsley and one rue but nine mouths to feed. Will they transition to the other plants when finished with dill? Also I read that they’re cannibals, do they eat each other???
Thank you so much for the video.
They are eating machines!! If you have items they eat, then yes, they'll move on as they pick one area clean. LOL If you already have 9 cats then you will need a lot more herb plants. The height of season is August into September. I don't know if they eat each other, but it's plausible. It's ROUGH in the insect world. Enjoy and don't let them stress you out. They can be pretty demanding.
@@PattymacMakes thank so much!🦋🦋🦋
@@ilnpa2722 You're welcome!!
Bom dia, é a primeira vez que estou a comentar. Eu gosto de borboletas mas não faço criação porque gosto muito das minhas orquideas e elas já me dão muito trabalho diário. Tenho também as minhas alunas de pergamano, ceramica, de pintura acrilica, e encaustica. Estes são meus trabalhos diarios, mais o comercio de tintas e artes decorativas.Vou seguindo o seu trabalho, com muito gosto. Também gosto de colinária, sou eu sempre que faço as refeições diárias. um bom final de Agosto.
Thank you! It is important to know how much you can do, and butterflies can be quite a lot of work this time of year. Your garden sounds beautiful!
Do you leave the habitat out in all weather conditions, ie rain, thunderstorms extreme heat.Also do the caterpillars need a water source in the habitat or do they get it from the parsley? Thanks
I only put it away if there is going to be a hurricane or a big wind storm. I started putting a large terra cotta tray in the bottom and that keeps it in place. They are pretty tough so you need to let them do their thing. It doesn't help nature if you baby them along too much. You need them to be strong so they live to reproduce. I don't give them anything but the parsley. They are pretty amazing creatures!
Thanks so much, wonderful video with lots of great info!
Thank you so much! Mine are under a sheet of protective netting and I have been worried that only a few left, but now I know that is fine. Do I need to have special flowers for them or can they get by this year on whatever flowers are around? Next year I will be more prepared.
They nectar on all sorts of flowers. you r garden zone really indicates what you should plant. But overall zinnias and sunflowers and lantanas are great. I have a couple of pollinator garden videos and links to info if you are interested.
So super helpful omg I ordered what I thought was the net thing u have off Amazon.....I got a dang tiny like 8 inch version of it I'm so upset bc I can't fit my carrot pot in it (that's where they lay) so I'm now collecting the large ones and putting carrot leaves and parsley in a bunch in a baby food jar ( my first day trying this) so I'm hoping I get them to chrysalis. I only put 2 in there. Any advice will b great
OMG, that's so small!! I really need to add links for you to help with this issue. The larger enclosures are worth the investment. Make sure you have the plant material that is appropriate for the caterpillars. I stick to parsley for Black Swallowtail butterflies. They love it and they do well on it. Once you get your pieces in place, you will love this hobby! It's so rewarding. I have had about a dozen new butterflies in the past week.
I got a square mesh laundry hamper from Walmart that had zippers on top and the side. The hamper is made of mesh versus the net material, but seems to keep the wasps away. Good Luck!
hi patty do you think i can raise butterflies in NYC, New York? we do have a very months of winter? I guess I can only do it when its warm?
Mark I'm sure you can do this even in the city. You should look into your Extension Office. Even NYC has a local extension, and they can probably help with letting you know what kinds of butterflies are in your area. It is a summer activity for sure. The butterflies are in hibernation or have migrated to a warmer zone at this point. So next year, try growing fresh parsley and dill where you can. I don't know what kind of access you have to outdoor space where you are. But if you're blessed with a little fire escape patio on a quiet courtyard, that would probably be ideal. It doesn't hurt to try, and the worst outcome is you have some fresh herbs to use in your food. Good Luck!
Can I raise my Black Swallowtail caterpillar on milkweed like my Monarchs
The adult butterflies like the flowers on milkweed, but the caterpillars can't sustain on it. They need parsley or dill for their food.
I used to have a black swallowtail caterpillar, but it died
They don't last all that long.
I think the black swallowtails are the boys and the brown swallowtail is the female
Thank you! I'll have to do a little more research!
a swallowtail butterfly landed on me today
That is wonderful!