If you are growing herbs such as parsley, fennel, carrots, radishes, celery, or dill in your garden then you most likely have encountered what some call “parsley worms”.
Although many may regard these “worms” as a nuisance, they should be treated with care as these “worms” are actually the caterpillars of the Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) or Anise Swallowtail (Papilio zelicaon) butterflies. These butterflies not only grace your garden with their beauty, but they are also important pollinators.
Sometimes people confuse these caterpillars with Monarch caterpillars. They do resemble each other, but the big difference is Monarch caterpillars only eat milkweed. Black swallowtails eat plants from the Apiaceae or the Rutaceae family.
If you do not want the caterpillars eating your herbs, gather them up and place them in a container with some of the plant you found them on. This will protect the vegetables and herbs you want to grow for food. Once they become butterflies you can release them so they can pollinate your garden.
So if you want butterflies in your garden don’t kill the caterpillars!