My girls and I found an Anise Swallowtail caterpillar on a patch of wild fennel a few weeks back. At that time he was about the size of a 
grain of rice. We brought him home and kept him fed and happy for 10 days until he made his chrysalis. After another 10 days or so he hatched into a beautiful Anise Swallowtail Butterfly. 
The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly always amazes and fascinates us. Even though we have raised numerous Monarchs in the same way over the years, the transformation is still truly remarkable and miraculous every time! I have noticed both wild fennel and milkweed, which is the host plant for Monarch caterpillars, in our neighborhood. I hope, in our diligence in eradicating invasive weeds, that we will all take the time to recognize these two butterfly and caterpillar food sources. Click here for a wonderful website full of information about butterflies and caterpillars, their food sources, and anything else you might be curious about. http://www.thebutterflysite.com/ 
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