Photo by Sue Pike A black swallowtail caterpillar with extended osmeterium — a bright orange defensive organ that releases foul-smelling chemicals to deter predators. Nature News Baby black swallowtail butterflies are beautiful and common by Sue Pike July 14 2016 We have a large patch of bronze fennel growing out back — this is unfortunate because it can be an aggressive invasive plant and is currently attempting to overrun my blueberry patch, but, on the other hand is good because it is home to a host of baby black swallowtail butterflies. These are one of our most common butterflies - adults are a gorgeous large black butterfly with two rows of yellow spots along the margins of the wings, and characteristic drooping “swallow” tails on the hindwings. Black swallowtail egg photo by Sue Pike The fully grown caterpillars are just as attractive with colorful alternating stripes of greenish-white and black with six ye...