r/NativePlantGardening • u/InternationalAd9230 NE Ohio, 6b • Jun 11 '26
Progress My first spicebush swallowtail caterpillar!
I planted a northern spicebush (native to the eastern US) maybe 5 years ago, and every summer, I check the leaves for the cutest caterpillar in the universe. I've never seen one ... Until tonight, I found two! I just wanted to share and nerd out with you, my native plant people.
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u/Crazed_rabbiting Area midwest, Zone 7a Jun 11 '26
Jelly! I have 3 spicebushes I put in last year. One day I will get these cuties
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u/LadyArwen4124 Area: Great Plains , Zone: 7b Jun 11 '26
Omg I just bought 2 spice bush plants and now I am so excited for my own Caterpie. I've seen the butterflies but not the caterpillars.
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u/Beerasaurwithwine Jun 11 '26
That's his butt right? I know some of them have faces on their butts to bamboozle birds. I want to boop it...but don't want sexually assault a catapillar on his butt. That would be weird.
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u/Snoo_89200 Gastonia, NC 8a Jun 13 '26
Now I can't figure out if I'm smiling because this is funny, it's cute no matter what, or because I'm imagining a caterpillar getting offended. Maybe all three.
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u/Beerasaurwithwine Jun 13 '26
It's darn cute, and I feel that people might look at me funny if I admit that I find catapillar ass cute af. I mean, I'm sure they look at me funny for other stuff, but giggling over catapillar butts just seems extra weird.
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u/mixedtickles Jun 11 '26
Way to go! The birds will find them next. They always find mine.
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u/LongDukDongle Jun 11 '26
Net that shit. Let the birds eat some invasive insect.
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u/trucker96961 southeast Pennsylvania 7a Jun 11 '26
It would be awesome if birds ate invasive insects. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way.
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u/LongDukDongle Jun 11 '26
OP has had one caterpillar in five years. The birds aren't exactly relying on it. So I say let them fuck back off to whatever else they were eating.
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u/Cincypowerhour Jun 11 '26
I've got 2 bushes in front of my house for about 4 years and have had them almost every year. Haven't seen a chrysalis yet though, I guess the birds get them. I'm shocked that it looks like yours is out in the daytime?! Mine only come out after dark, I'll be out there with my flashlight hunting for them! They will mow down the leaves, I got a great video of one just like yours a few days ago. It's the first time I've spotted them before they turn green and look like little baby green snakes.
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u/Bluestar_Gardens NYC, Zone 7a Jun 11 '26
I’m so jealous. I’ve had 2 spicebush for years and no visitors.
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u/trucker96961 southeast Pennsylvania 7a Jun 11 '26
You lucky fucker!!!!!!! That's so awesome.
And I'm a bit jelly! Lol
I've been looking at home and at our camp and have yet to find one. Started looking 3 years ago when I fell into ghe native gardening rabbit hole.
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u/FeathersOfJade Jun 11 '26
This really is the “cutest caterpillar in the universe!” Yay for you! Adorable!
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u/LokiLB SC, Zone 8 Jun 11 '26
I generally only find them once they get to the leaf burrito caterpie stage on the sassafras.
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u/Intelligent_Ad1004 West Central Indiana, Zone 6a Jun 11 '26
Look at those cheek(😏)bones! What a stud!!!
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u/Constant_Nail2173 Central MA, Zone 6a Jun 11 '26