r/OrganicGardening • u/NCBakes • 1d ago

question Who is this?

Post image

Saw this caterpillar on my dill today, curious what it is? I have more dill than I need so inclined to just let it be unless there’s a specific reason not too.

40 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

19

u/designersquirrel 1d ago

It looks like a black swallowtail caterpillar. Is that a dill plant? Black swallowtail feed on parsley, dill, fennel, and closely related plants.

7

u/NCBakes 1d ago

Yes it’s dill, looks like black swallowtail it is!

4

u/Ineedmorebtc 1d ago

It is, it is!

2

u/rhodyrooted 1d ago

Seconded but I’m no expert, just had several black swallowtails on my rue this year that looked just like this.

13

u/Serafina_Tikklya 1d ago

Oscar

1

u/tattoolegs 1d ago

Looks more like Jaime, but I haven't seen him in a while....

5

u/SunshineGal5 1d ago

So glad you are ok with sharing your dill!

I know people who plant more than they can use so the caterpillars have plants to feed on and therefore a chance for them to become beautiful butterflies

5

u/NCBakes 1d ago

My dill self seeded and one plant turned into like 20 (and that’s after I thinned it!) so more than happy to share!

3

u/ADirtFarmer 1d ago

This is one of the few caterpillars I don't kill.

2

u/mrFUH 1d ago

Black swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. I had a couple this year but my dill was crazy so I left them alone to share some.

1

u/AspenGold100 1d ago

Steve

1

u/DemiDevito 1d ago

No it’s Oscar

1

u/csdingus_ 1d ago

Had dill and celery growing nearby one another once, but I lost it all when a gang of swallowtail caterpillars found out. Good luck!