Skip to content
What's That Bug? does not endorse extermination

Mating Pipevine Swallowtails and Caterpillar

Posted by bugman April 21st, 2006 at 12:00 am

Categories

swallowtail caterpillars, swallowtails

Tags

Mating Swallowtails
Dear Bugman,
Thought you might like this photo. Spring is definitely in the air – we have lots and lots of emerging Pipevine Swallowtails and they’re wasting no time! Took the photo 2 days ago. I’ve also attached some photos of the caterpillars that I took last year. There were so many of these hungry guys (and gals) munching on the pipevine bush that we could actually hear them eating – it was really cool! I also discovered that if you frighten or annoy them, they extend some type of “antennae” from the back of their heads – fascinating and beautiful critters.
Ann Ranlett
Nature Illustrations & Pet Portraits

Hi Ann,
Your photographs are always so awesome. Both your mating butterflies and the caterpillars are Pipevine Swallowtails, Battus philenor. The caterpillar is displaying its osmeterium, a horned retractable organ that gives off a foul odor. Many swallowtail caterpillars have this defense mechanism.

Related Posts

  1. Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar (March 12, 2005)
  2. Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar (May 1, 2006)
  3. Pipevine Caterpillars and Chrysalis (January 14, 2007)
  4. Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar (March 26, 2006)
  5. Pipevine Swallowtails Mating (April 25, 2008)

Post a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.