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Project Noah Nature School
Papilio polyxenes
Fourth or Fifth instar (denoted by green and black stripes with yellow-orange spots on the latter) Eastern Black Swallowtail feeding on fennel in my garden. Showed its osmeterium (defense mechanism) when I brushed its prothoracic segment. Once done feeding, the caterpillar will purge and begin looking for a place to form a chrysalis.
Fennel plant in organic garden surrounded by mixed hardwood forest and an overgrown yard/field.
Spotted on Jul 18, 2017
Submitted on Jul 18, 2017
1 Comment
A very beautiful caterpillar....