Parsley Worm Guide
Papilio polyxenes
Basic Details
Description
Taxonomy
Features
Translations
Basic Details
NameParsley Worm Guide
DescriptionIdentify parsley worms, the colorful caterpillars of swallowtail butterflies. Learn about their lifespan and how to manage them without harming beneficials.
TypeInsect
FamilyPapilionidae
GenusPapilio
TribePapilionini
Taxonomy & Features
PhylumArthropoda
SubphylumHexapoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
SubfamilyPapilioninae
Features
- Named 'parsley worm' because it commonly feeds on parsley plants. Also called black swallowtail caterpillar after the butterfly it becomes
- Young caterpillars are black with white band, resembling bird droppings. Mature caterpillars are bright green with black bands featuring yellow-orange dots. Have orange forked organ (osmeterium) behind head for defense
- Feed on leaves, stems, and flowers of parsley family plants. Chew large portions of foliage. Can strip small plants completely
- Create large holes and stripped stems on plants. Older caterpillars can defoliate entire parsley, dill, or fennel plants
- Adults lay single eggs on host plants. Caterpillars feed for 3-4 weeks before forming chrysalis. Two generations per year in most regions
- Grow up to 5 cm (2 inches) long. One of the largest caterpillars found in vegetable gardens
- Most active in warm weather from spring through fall. Adults are beautiful black butterflies with blue and yellow markings
- Attack parsley, dill, fennel, carrots, celery, caraway, and other plants in the carrot family (Apiaceae)
- Prevent by planting extra herbs for caterpillars, using row covers, or relocating caterpillars to wild plants. Many gardeners tolerate them for the butterflies
- Natural predators include parasitic wasps, birds, and assassin bugs. Handpick and relocate. Treat with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or spinosad if necessary
Names in Different Languages
Latin / ScientificPapilio polyxenes
English (Alternate)Black Swallowtail Caterpillar, Celeryworm, Carrot Caterpillar, Dillworm, Fennelworm, Parsnip Swallowtail
Hindiಕಾತ್ರಾ (Katra), ಇಲ್ಲಿ (Illi), ಸೋಅ (Soa), ಸುವಾ (Suva)
Tamilವೋಕ್ಕೋಸು ಪುಳು (Vōkkōcu puzhu), ವೋಕ್ಕೋಸು ಅಂದುಪ್ಪೂಚ್ಚಿಪ್ಪುಳು (Vōkkōcu antuppūccippuzhu)
Teluguಕ್ಯಾಟರ್ಪಿల్లರ್ (Caterpillar), ಪುರುಗು (Purugu), ಸೀತಾಕೋಕಚಿಲುಕ ಪುರುಗು (Sitakokachiluka Purugu)
Malayalamಕಟರ್ಪಿಲ್ಲರ್ (Kattarppillar), ಇಲಯೂಟಿ (Ilayūṭṭi)
Kannadaಪಟ್ಟಣ ಹುಳ (Paṭṭaṇa huḷa)
Sanskritಮಧುರಿಕಾ (Madhurika), ಶಾಲೇಯಕ (Shāleyaka), ಮಧುರಿಕಾ-ಕೀಟ (Madhurika-kita)
Bengaliಕಿಟ್ (kit), ಪೋಕಾ (poka), ಪಾರ್ಸ್ಲೆ ಕಿಟ್ (parsley kit), ಪಾರ್ಸ್ಲೆ ಪೋಕಾ (parsley poka)
French papillon du céleri
Russianಗುಸೆನಿತ್ಸಾ ಮಖಾಓನಾ (gusenitsa makháona)
Spanishoruga de la col rizada, oruga de la golondrina
GermanSchwalbenschwanz, Östlicher Schwalbenschwanz
