A walk through the garden this morning revealed a lucky find of baby polydamas caterpillars just emerging from its eggs. Some were still eating the remains of the eggs. I love mornings like this, finding the miracles of nature in my own backyard.

The polydamas lays yellow to orange eggs in clusters of 10 to 14, which can typically be spotted on newly developed stems, or growing tips, of the Dutchman pipe. It takes four to six days to hatch. Once they emerge from their egg, they consume it before going onto the leaves of the plant.

The polydamas swallowtail caterpillars feed in groups when they are small, devouring the youngest leaves, as well as flowers before moving onto the older portions of the Dutchman pipe.

For more information, and additional photos, click on https://sweetbutterflybliss.com/polydamas-swallowtail-butterfly/?frame-nonce=e7c6cffbc2