What size are Swallowtail caterpillars when they're ready to form the chrysalis?

by Kathy
(Point Pleasant Boro, NJ)

These are my first Swallowtail caterpillars (last year we had Monarchs) and I don't know how big they will get before they form the chrysalis. There are about 12 of them and I wasn't sure when I should begin providing them with individual containers and sticks to hang from. Thank you.

Karen says:
They usually molt (shed their skin) about 5 times and will get 2" or more long. The surest way to know that they are ready to pupate is when they start to try and wander away from the host food plant. I hope this helps.

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Swallowtail caterpillar picture
by: Anonymous

I always have a lot of Swallowtail caterpillars every summer but I can never find them when they form the chrysalis.Maybe I'll try to put a few in a container this year.If you can, would you post some pictures of yours when you set them up to form a chrysalis? Good luck!

Karen says:
Check out this page on raising monarch caterpillars for pictures and ideas of containers and how to set up for raising caterpillars (would work for any kind of caterpillars).

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