HI. Just found this on my lemonade tree, another has the red “feelers” out of sight, or retracted, would love to know what it is. Thank you,
dawn lewis
Hi Dawn,
We can say with near certainty that you did not photograph this Swallowtail Caterpillar in the continental U.S. That said, we have no idea what species it is or where you photographed it, though that is information you could have easily supplied to us. Swallowtails are large showy butterflies, often with tails on the hind wings. Most of the caterpillars have a forked scent gland near the head known as the osmeterium. It is normally concealed, but when the caterpillar is disturbed, it emits an odor from this scent gland. We only wish we knew what exotic country you took the photo. It sure is a pretty specimen.
Update: (01/21/2007) swallowtail ID
Hey, guys!
I saw the gorgeous image you guys posted recently of a swallowtail larva from an undisclosed country. It looked sort of like an orange dog, Papilio cresphontes, only it had green and a lot of spines, and a bright red osmeterium. I did some googling, and I think it’s the Orchard Swallowtail, Papilio aegeus. They are found in Australia! Here’s a couple of links to sites I found. http://www.geocities.com/brisbane_butters/Orch_butt.htm
http://www.museum.vic.gov.au/bioinformatics/butter/images/aegelive6.htm
Bobby
Thanks for the update Bobby, We also noticed the resemblance to the Orange Dog in the osmeterium, but we didn’t have the time to do further research without a country. Australia was an obvious choice at this time of year. Thanks again.
What is this caterpillar?
Can you identify this caterpillar? I found this in Nov 2007 in the Sutter Buttes of California. It was on the ground about 30 feet from a cluster of pupas that I found attached to a rock. Not sure if they are related. Thank You,
Richard Coleman
Hi Richard,
Your caterpillars are Pipevine Swallowtails, Battus philenor, and the Chrysalis is also from the Pipevine Swallowtail. Your photo does not show the silken girdle thread that keeps the chrysalis upright. This is a characteristic of the chrysalis of most swallowtails.
Australian bird shit caterpillar
Hi Bugman,
I am no entomologist but I like science and looking at it I was thinking: What is that? A bird shit caterpillar !!! Wow, how darwinian !? Searching on the net I discover you have the same in Kansas… I thought you’d be interested to know that we have the equivalent in Australia living on our lemon tree, it’s the citrus thing that triggered my interest. Two bugs adopting the same mimicry eating the same kind of leaves…? It’s more than just a case of co-evolution. And I suspect the butterfly associated to this caterpillar is this gorgeous one that goes up and down and up and down in the hot summer afternoon in our backyard. I have a pic somewhere I’ll try to find it if you are interested. On the pic the caterpillar is in a defensive position, normally the pointy bits are not erected and it looks just like a bird poo. New years greetings from Oz
Olivier Bruge & Peter Young
Canberra
Hi Olivier and Peter,
Your caterpillar is a Citrus Swallowtail or Orchard Swallowtail, Papilio aegeus. The Butterflies of Australia website has images of the caterpillars and the adults. Your caterpillar is an early instar, and the coloration will change with subsequent molts. We would love to get a photo of the adult butterfly if you are able to send one.
Down under Papilio Aegeus !
Hi Daniel,
Thank you so much for your answer. Here is the pic of the butterfly I was very happy to know that my huntch was right. I love the idea that this beautiful insect comes out of a big poo!! It’s a great evolutionary version of Andersen’s “hugly duckling”. … Have a g’day (as we say here)
Olivier Bruge,
Canberra, Australia.
Black Swallowtail Caterpiller – with “horns” out
Thought you might like to add this shot. Taken in September in the Dallas, Texas area, near some parsley plants.
Jeffrey L. Cox
Hi Jeffrey,
Thanks for sending us your wonderful photograph of a Black Swallowtail Caterpillar with its Osmetrium or scent gland extended.
Puzzled
Dear WTB, we live in northern California, in the foothills north of Sacramento (Penryn). On our walks to the local pond we have been finding a lot of these caterpillars along the trail. Can you help us learn what they are? Thank you,
Jack (6) and Macy (4).
Hi Jack and Macy,
This is a Pipevine Swallowtail Caterpillar. They feed on both native and cultivated pipevine. If provoked, the caterpillar has an interesting defense mechanism. A forked orange scent gland called the osmetrium emerges, looking like a forked horn. The caterpillar then emits a foul odor.
Orangebar Sulphur – Phoebis Philea Larvae
Hello Bugman,
Didn’t see this in your database as I was trying to identify it. I found it on another site and I thought you might want to add it to your site. I took this photo on a bush in my yard today. Almost didn’t see the caterpillars. I have a few shots of these so let me know if this suffices. Thanks,
Chris Sizemore
Hi Chris,
Two weeks ago we received a letter from Donna in Florida with images of two caterpillars she found on her Cassia, the flower in your photo. We identified them as color variations of the Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar, but someone wrote in that one was possilby the Orange-Barred Sulphur. It seems one color variation of the Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar resembles the the caterpillar of the Orange Barred Sulphur. Thanks for sending in your photo.
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Posted 26 November 2006
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Caterpillars on Cassia
I found these two on my cassia last week. I think the one with stripes running the length is a sulphur of some kind. Any idea about the other one?
Donna Williams
DeLand, Florida
Hi Donna,
We are pretty certain both of your caterpillars are the same species, the Cloudless Sulphur, Phoebis sennae, a beautiful, swift flying, shrome yellow butterfly. BugGuide pictures two color forms of the caterpillar, green with longitudinal stripes, and yellow with traverse stripes. The yellow form is reportedly more common when the caterpillar feeds on flowers, but both of your specimens seems to be feeding on the flowers.
Sulphurs (11/16/2006)
Hey Guys, The pic on the right could also be Orange barred sulphur (Phoebis philea). I’ve seen then both feeding on species of Cassia and Senna in Southern Florida. Sometimes they feed on the same plant. We have them both here on the Gulf Coast of Texas, as well. I took a few of each and raised them, and when they’re in the Yellow/flower eating from they look alot alike. Just wanted to share. Eric Duran
Nature Discovery Center
Bellaire, TX
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Posted 15 November 2006
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caterpillar
Greetings, My cousin in Florida found this little guy in her back yard. Any ideas? My son thinks it is a snake mimic of some sort. Thanks,
Jessica
Hi Jessica,
We typically think of caterpillars with large false eyespots, like the Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar, as snake mimics. The Caterpillar of the Giant Swallowtail, also known as the Orange Dog, which you sent in, seems to many people (and we include ourselves in that camp) to imitate bird droppings. The caterpillar feeds on the leaves of citrus trees.
Orange Dog pic
Hi Bugman,
Wonderful caterpillar pages. You have helped me finally identify my Orange Dog caterpillars! They love lemon trees in Texas. They are our little rainforest buddies. This one picture October 2006 in the lemon tree. Thank you!
Jill in San Antonio TX
Hi Jill,
We are pleased to know you used our site to identify your Orange Dog, the caterpillar of the Giant Swallowtail.
Bird Poop Caterpillar
Hi Bugman,
I believe I may have found the Bird Poop Caterpillar on my lemon tree here in Kansas City. I see pictures of the moth but can not find pictures of the caterpillar. What do you think?
Kathy
Hi Kathy,
The caterpillar of the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly resembles bird droppings and eats leaves of citrus trees. It is commonly called the Orange Dog.
Caterpllar ID please
I have been searching all sorts of photos on the web. I have not been able to find anything that remotely resembles this fella. I live in Central PA.
Ellen
Hi Ellen,
This is a Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar. Over the years, we have received at least 4 images and have them in our archives buried somewhere on our 7 caterpillar pages.
I thought you might like this
I saw on your site that you were looking for a photo of an ‘orange dog’ and I believe this is it. I found these huge caterpillars in late June on my lemon tree in Arlington, Texas. Stretched along the branches, they were perfectly camouflaged as bird droppings. When disturbed, they display a red-orange star-shaped organ that smells like ‘caterpillars’. The scent is what clued me in to their presence. I smelled them while watering the little tree. These are very large, scary-looking caterpillars, and I wore gloves to pick them up; however, they didn’t harm anyone. We kept these in an aquarium on the back porch (with netting over the top) and I sacrificed a few more of my lemon leaves to allow them to reach maturity. We released six of the adults in early July. Unfortunately I was unable to photograph the adults.
Char
P.S. Love your site.
Hi Char,
Your letter is quite wonderful. Since that request was made, we have received several wonderful images of Orange Dogs, but yours is the first submission of a Chrysalis, which excites us to no end. Swallowtail Chrysalids can be distinguished by the girdle of silk that keeps the pupa in an upright position.
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