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Spicebush Swallowtail larvae

Papilio troilus

Description:

Spicebush Swallowtail larva go through three color stages as they develop.In their first moltings they are brown and white and look like bird droppings. In their mid stage they are a brilliant green. The last instar these caterpillars are a deep orange red. Photo: Late instar (orange red) and third instar (green) larvae.

Habitat:

These caterpillars can be found rolled up inside leaves of their host plants camphor and spicebush. The larva weave tiny pads of silk which curls the leaf around them to create a shelter.

Notes:

The Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus) is a remarkable butterfly at every stage of the game. The adult butterfly is quite large with a wingspan of three to four inches across. This species displays sexual dimorphism which means that males and females have different coloration. Males have hind wings with a pale green to yellow coloration. Females display a blue iridescent coloration which imitates the distasteful Pipevine Swallowtail as part of the Swallowtail mimicry complex. Pearly white spherical eggs are laid singly on the undersides of new growth of host plants. Larva host on Spicebush, sassafras, tulip tree, sweetbay magnolia, camphor , and redbay where caterpillars create leaf shelters and use them to hide from predators. Larvae start off brown in color but molt to a brilliant green. Late instar caterpillars appear a bright orange or yellow in color as they prepare to pupate. The large eyespots of these caterpillars can startle predators and people. Their chrysalis can be either green or brown in color. In Greek mythology Troilus was the beautiful son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba of Troy. Some stories include Troilus and his sister Polyxena being set upon by Achilles while watering their horses. In this version of the tale Troilus seeks sanctuary in a temple of Apollo but Achilles catches up to the boy and murders him at the alter. Other tales from mythology depict Troilus in unequal combat with Achilles who prevails in the battle. Troilus and his love for Cressida are subjects of plays by Chaucer and Shakespeare.

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181 Comments (1–25)

Miss Naturaleza
Miss Naturaleza 7 years ago

So adorable!!

noeliapa
noeliapa 7 years ago

Beautiful colors

LauraPantelakis
LauraPantelakis 8 years ago

Oh my goodness they are little buddies! Too cute!

Perez Fernandez
Perez Fernandez 8 years ago

that is amazing!

DaleSpringsMitchum
DaleSpringsMitchum 8 years ago

Kristen: Thank you!! A couple of weeks ago while walking my doggies, I spotted this brown catipillar. I had to stop - the huge eyes were amazing. I told my son it would probably become a butterfly but until I saw this had no idea! Dale (in SC)

EarlyStages
EarlyStages 8 years ago

Excellent photos and one of my favorites too, but incorrectly captioned. BOTH caterpillars are last/fifth instar – midsize P. troilus larvae are never green – the top cat being completely developed and soon ready to pupate (thus "discolored").

dylanjamesjoaquin
dylanjamesjoaquin 9 years ago

I would love to see these.

Desmond.E.S.O
Desmond.E.S.O 9 years ago

Wow! Those are Amazing!

jokrwx3
jokrwx3 9 years ago

Horror

GreenBugs
GreenBugs 9 years ago

totally agree, very nice look at two different instars

metulippatch
metulippatch 9 years ago

That is amazing!!

KristenGilpin
KristenGilpin 9 years ago

@Abby Ccga: I just chose to ignore the comment and hope something got lost in translation.

Abby Ccga
Abby Ccga 9 years ago

@country-day-guana "that's very impressive for a woman"??? Ignorant sexist

ILoveAnimals
ILoveAnimals 10 years ago

Its amazing oh my!!! Nice 1😀

WildlifeCrusader
WildlifeCrusader 10 years ago

The camouflage may be there to make it seem like a snake, but I find it adorable. ~<3

HazelMarley
HazelMarley 10 years ago

I have to say, they are adorable. Great picture!

bg11a17
bg11a17 10 years ago

So beautiful! They don't seem real, they are so wonderful that it seem a painting!

the reptile man
the reptile man 10 years ago

ok that is cool creepy and cute all at the same time

Pedro Beirão
Pedro Beirão 10 years ago

Beautiful. Almost like a drawing or a fine painting..

JanineLingTurner
JanineLingTurner 10 years ago

that is amazing!

that's very impressive for a woman well I guess it's pretty good for everyone

Darvesh
Darvesh 10 years ago

This photo is always fresh, no matter how many times you see it !

ceejayalyssa
ceejayalyssa 10 years ago

awesome!

amelieprentice2003
amelieprentice2003 10 years ago

They look like caterpillars in a cartoon! Nice!

vasudha548
vasudha548 10 years ago

Amazing Kristen

KristenGilpin
Spotted by
KristenGilpin

Tampa, Florida, United States

Spotted on Oct 5, 2010
Submitted on Jul 26, 2011

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