www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

In the middle of watering the garden, I found what I assume is a Swallowtail caterpillar walking up a wall:
When it got nearly to the top, it decided to go back down:
It then disappeared into some undergrowth.

Was it looking for somewhere where it could turn into a pupa, or is it a bit too early for that?
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Colin

i can't help answer your question but that's just showing off lovely to think about having them in the garden,

Chris

What a lovely looking caterpillar

It looks full grown to me and I think you are probably right that it is looking for somewhere to pupate. The females are quite clever about where they lay their eggs and unless something like a drought or local council has destroyed the foodplant you don't normally find still growing caterpillars far from greenery.

Guy

ChrisC wrote:that's just showing off

Well I'd better not tell you that today there was a Two-tailed Pasha floating around the Arbousier trees, and a Swallowtail busy on a Red Valerian, and that for about the last couple of weeks a Scarce Swallowtail has been regularly coming to the garden .
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Colin