The Spicebush

If you have a spicebush in your yard and it looks like its leaves get eaten, don't despair. That is actually good news. It means that a spicebush swallowtail laid its eggs under the leaves of the spicebush. As the caterpillar emerges from the egg it folds a leaf around it to protect it from predators. They feed on the leaves, which is why your spicebush might look like a giant insect took big bites out of it.
For the last few weeks I've been inspecting our spicebush for signs of larvae. Today, I spotted this teeny fellow: