A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Papilio cresphontes
brown/ white caterpillar with red antenna
thorn bush/ country
he released a horrible smell when his antenna came out. I've never seen this before
Wow thanks Bayucca , his "osmeterium" really scared me ! Thanks for the I.d of the plant too :)
Oh, yes, I see, I didn't look at the top of the screen (MacBook). Your ID is certainly correct, but I am wondering why all people still call it Papilio. I know that bugguide call it also Papilio. In my most reliable source (BOA) it is Heraclides as others as well. However, there are still some disputes about the taxonomy. For me it is Heraclides. For not irritate the spotter, I will once delete my ID ;-)...
Bayucca, I suggested an ID fifteen minutes ago. Do you not agree with my genus identity? We are referring to the same species.
The plant might be Zanthoxylum americanum or Common Prickly-ash, also called Toothache Tree (I love this name...), one of the host plants of Heraclides cresphontes caterpillars.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanthoxylum...
The orange antennae are not exactly antennae. It is called osmeterium and serves for defense:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osmeterium
Definitely a swallowtail. Please confirm species ID. The orange "antennae" release a nasty smell in defense.
Spotted on Aug 30, 2012
Submitted on Aug 31, 2012
+4
