RE: unknown larva

Don:  I got so excited when I saw you first e-mail that requested to
identify the larva you had.  I immediately got my butterfly book down and
right off discovered the answer.  Before I e-mailed back I saw you had
another e-mail telling of a friend who identified it as the Pipevine
Swallowtail.  I had a similar experience this past May.  I had heard that
the Fennel was a host plant for the Swallowtail so I bought me a couple of
Fennel plants and sit them on our unscreened porch.  In just a few days I
noticed a beautiful black and yellow Swallowtail flitting around the Fennel
and sitting on it.  I got so excited and watched her for over a half hour.
Later in the day I went out to see if I could find anything on it.  Yes,
there were little tiny greenish yellow eggs on the Fennel.  Every day I went
out to check the eggs to see how they were doing.  In a week or so I had
eight tiny black worms.  I sit the plant to where the birds would not find
the worms.  Well, to my surprise the little critters ate and ate and grew
and grew to the point I had to go buy more Fennel.  They turned into
beautiful green with black strips on them.  In the meantime we had part of
the deck screened in so I sit the Fennels inside the screened area so when
they made their chrysalis I could observe them.  Well, in a week or so they
began one by one to crawl away from the Fennel and go into this harden
stage.  They hooked their chrysalis by a tiny silk like thread.  I had eight
little chrysalis hanging all over my screened in porch. Well, a couple of
weeks went by and one morning I was sitting looking outside onto the porch
and I saw something black hanging on the rail.  I thought it was a small
bat.  Haah.  I got up and took a better look and lo and behold, one of the
butterflies had emerged.  In three days I had eight butterflies to emerge.
Of the eight six flew away.
For some unknown reason, two did not develop right.  I was saddened.
That was one of the most enjoyable experiences I've ever had.  I had friends
who came over to see each stage of the process.  It was very interesting and
I have digital photos of each stage.
I hope you get to see each stage of the Pipevine Swallowtail you have.  It
may be harder to keep up with since it's out in your yard.  Good luck and it
was good that you did not kill it until you found out what it was.
Happy Days, Nancy

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-perennials@mallorn.com [o*@mallorn.com]On
Behalf Of Don Martinson
Sent: Friday, July 06, 2001 7:45 PM
To: perennials@mallorn.com
Subject: unknown larva

I've found a bunch of these larvae munching on the leaves of my
Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia durior).  They seem to be nowhere else
and there are plenty of leaves.  Anyone recognize them?

http://www.execpc.com/~llmen/larva.jpg

--
Don Martinson
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
l*@execpc.com


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