Single yellow eggs on dill plant

[PhillyGardener]

One of my dill plants had about 10-12 small, perfectly round yellow eggs on it this morning. They were stuck to the outermost foliage and laid individually. I started pulling them off but didn't want to do so if it's a beneficial insect...any ideas? (Sorry no photos, but my camera can't focus on something that small.)

[Marlingardener]

You probably have the eggs of black swallowtail butterflies on your dill. We let dill grow where it will, when it will, in our garden. The butterfly eggs will develop into "caterpillars" which are really instars that go through five stages from itty-bitty to an inch or more long, yellow and black striped, and then develop into chrysalis and emerge as butterflies. The "caterpillar" stage will eat the dill foliage, but you can buy dill, where can you buy butterflies? You will likely have enough dill for your use, and you'll also have lovely butterflies to look at!

[PhillyGardener]

Thanks so much! This is very helpful. I love butterflies, who flock to my garden (it's tiny but sadly the biggest one on the block) and will try to be patient with their baby caterpillars.