Giant Swallowtail Butterfly Caterpillar and Ruta graveolens

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In the garden yesterday, two Giant Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillars appeared on the Ruta graveolens.

These plants were started from seed several years ago 
and have grown to over 3 feet tall.

This is the ground under one of the plants. Those little Rue plants number about 50 and we have been giving them away by the dozens in order to provide more food for Giant Swallowtails.

This is an adult - photo from the Entomomlogy Dept., Univ. of FL. Click over to their link under the photo to learn more about this gorgeous winged wonder of our gardens.
Giant Swallowtail Papilio cresphontes




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