Woo hoo!!! Congrats, Tracey! I also just got some on um, I think it was Friday. Well, that's when I first saw them anyway, so I hope nothing got to them in the meantime. I managed to lose the teeny tiny ones, and I haven't a clue where they ended up, but I'm sure they dead by now. They should stay put instead of wandering off somewhere. Anyway, I asked the experts and they gave super answers. If you go down further on the main page and click on the post/thread "I should have been paying more attention", that will help you out tremendously. Best of luck! I'm really happy for you.
Cathy

Thanks a million Cathy; I'll check it out. I know I should've done a search HERE first. Google is great and all, but I did spend 10 minutes searching before I got frustrated and posted here ;)

Yes, the post Cathy mentioned has some good info, Though I won't repeat here what I said there.
-Jmcat

You're welcome, Tracey. I printed it out too! lol I thought that was such great information that was given. Yeah, I know what you mean about getting frustrated doing searches. Sometimes I have luck but then again lots of times I feel like I'm going on a wild goose chase.
Cathy

May I verify what I have so I can keep an accurate journal? It looks the same, but want to have the expert eyes from this forum review it. This cat is on my bronze fennel and I've been assuming Swallowtail -- but, my garden is full of Eastern, Black and Spicebush. I had been thinking Black?

Thanks,
Cameron
{{gwi:542705}}

Yes, Cameron, yours is a black swallowtail, it's just in an earlier instar with the little "spikes" still on it. Congratulations!
MissSherry

I'm learning so much! I think I'm getting addicted! I keep my camera in my pocket everytime I go in the garden now.

Thanks!
Cameron

Welcome to the forum, Cameron, and congrats on the BST! Hope you'll hang around with us, enjoy the fun, and continue to share photos.

Susan

Hi Cameron, Welcome to the forum and congrats on the BST cat! I must warn you, if you hang around here, your addiction will only get worse. :-)
Cathy

"Get worse" is an understatement ;)

Worse??? What do you mean worse? I don't consider this addiction a bad one, so how can it get worse? Of course, I'm one of the "addicted"! ;)
-Jmcat

lol, i dont know. you folks have me pretty hooked, and yes, my kids are thinking this could be a bad addiction. somewhere in this forum ( i really need to find a system to remember what conversations i have participated in) i mentioned that this was my best year for butterflies. well, today, i was transplanting one of my hibiscus plants, and found a bright green cat on the underside of one of the leaves. before this forum, i didn't even realize this was the season to begin. i need instruction on what to do to keep it alive. i dont have a cat home, its still on the bush, and i am on my way to find some way to identify it. since my first visit to this forum, i have so many plans for my gardens next year!!this could definitley keep me smiling through the winter.

Tracey, I'm up to about 50 bst cats in all instars. I had a momma bst lay eggs all over my small carrot patch.

I assume they will all overwinter and next spring will be a bst bonanza.

Wow are they growing FAST!

Maryann in CT

Oh, how upset I am! I can't find one of the cats! He was fat & happy & all, but I saw a gap at the bottom of one door of my screened enclosure. It's gone; it's only a windowbox containing 2 parsley plants; small enough to notice the one must've made a mad dash out of there. I searched around the perimeter, looking for anything resembling a chrysalid; nothing, nada! I screwed the one door closed and now have entry thru the other door, but there's now a gap between the doors. I'm hoping the last remaining BST will stay in the enclosure and pupate without wanting to wander...

Tracey,

BSTs are wanderers. Is there anyway you can put a piece of netting over the plants and the windowbox? I have netted my pot of snapdragons and Buckeyes so they can't wander off. I use tulle and make elastic bands with the round elastic from the fabric department at Walmart. I have four skewers supporting the net so it gives the guys some room to move around and find a place on the net to pupate. Plastic clothes pins around the edge help keep the netting in place.

Sandy

Thanks Sandy; I use tulle for my monarch's, which I raise in Ziploc containers. I have plenty left (monarch cat season is definitely done for me here), so I'll either staple it or duct tape it on the outside, so my last one can't get out. It should work...