How do these caterpillars keep getting into my parsley?

Question

I live 3 stories up and have a little urban garden out my window. In my garden is a basket of herbs I hang off a railing. Somehow, in the last few weeks I've been noticing caterpillars munching on my parsley! The first one I let alone thinking he'd go away, but the parsley wasn't eaten turned brown. So when I found two more, I tossed them down (to their deaths?) I hope I didn't kill them, but I saved one once and he destroyed my plant. How are they getting all the way up here and what's the best way of dealing with them?

Answer 1

http://www.ehow.com/how_4479072_keep-cat...

hope that helps  

Answer 2

the caterpillars on your parsley are from eggs placed there by the black swallowtail butterfly...this guy, right?.....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/radagast/53...

.. in a garden, folks plant enuff parsley and fennel for the people to have AND for the butterflies' caterpillars to eat.... sharing, ya know?.... but with a little urban garden, we understand you not caring to share... they do munch a LOT!!!....

it would be great if you knew where there was some fennel growing and you could tote the critters to it rather than just outright squashing them or dropping them off the balcony... but, hey... to each his own.... maybe a bird will make quick work of them before you see one again.....

Answer 3

They were probably in your soil when your planted your basket.