Caterpillar

We found a Black Swallowtail caterpillar in the fridge.

Look at its cute little face!

Eek! Don't eat me.

This little critter came in with the herbs from the farmer's market, and spent the night in the refrigerator before we discovered it. After some internet research, we determined the species (Black Swallowtail), what it eats (dill and parsley), and where it is in its life cycle (fifth instar, one step from metamorphosis). We put it in a clear plastic cup for observation. It would grab on to a frond of dill with six legs, and munch munch munch it up.

Today when I got home, the cup contained an enormous pile of caterpillar poo. According to our research, the pre-pupae regimen is not unlike preparation for a colonoscopy. They purge and then start searching for a good place to form their chrysalis. And indeed, this caterpillar was searching. It had busted out of its shrink-wrap covered cup, and wandered across the kitchen. I offered it a stick. It climbed right on and hugged it.

It is currently wandering around a mason jar, and has once escaped, briefly. It seems none of the sticks are satisfactory. I'll give an update if our little friend finally settles in and casts out some silk.