These newly emerged Black Swallowtail Butterflies in our garden are both females. You can easily see the difference between Black Swallowtail males and females.

The females have a great deal more of the sparkly blue iridescent wing scales, while the males have many more yellow spots.

Female Black Swallowtails

Male Black Swallowtail

Charlotte discovered the caterpillars on fennel plants at Cedar Rock Gardens. Black Swallowtail females deposit their eggs on members of the Carrot Family including dill, fennel, parsley, Queen Anne’s Lace, and parsnips.