caterpillars eating my parsley

Question

I had numerous caterpillars eating my parsley. I picked them off but now they are back. How do I prevent them and still have herbs that are safe to ingest? When tiny, they are black then they become green with black stripes. Do butterflies lay eggs? How do they get there?

Answer 1

Black swallowtail caterpillars are what is eating your parsley. For more information on these caterpillars and how to deter them, please visit the following link:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/parsley/deterring-parsley-worms.htm