Guardian Nature School Team Contact Blog Project Noah Facebook Project Noah Twitter

A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife

Join Project Noah!
nature school apple icon

Project Noah Nature School visit nature school

Black Swallowtail Caterpillar

Papilio polyxenes

Description:

There are several on the last remains of the parsley. The black swallowtail caterpillar has an orange "forked gland", called the osmeterium. When in danger, the osmeterium, which looks like a snake's tongue, everts and releases a foul smell to repel predators.

Habitat:

Parsley in an herb garden box.

Notes:

Most of these last caterpillars have been falling prey to jumping spiders and wasps.

Species ID Suggestions



Sign in to suggest organism ID

3 Comments

keithp2012
keithp2012 11 years ago

You have so many!

Fyn  Kynd
Fyn Kynd 11 years ago

Lovely.

davidcooke1900
davidcooke1900 11 years ago

Love them!

gatorfellows
Spotted by
gatorfellows

Denton, Texas, USA

Spotted on Oct 10, 2012
Submitted on Oct 11, 2012

Related Spottings

The Common Mormon ♂ Papilio machaon lime butterfly -  Papilio demoleus Papilio cresphontes

Nearby Spottings

Gulf Fritillary Caterpillar Ruby-throated Hummingbird Ruby-throated Hummingbird Nashville Warbler
Noah Guardians
Noah Sponsors
join Project Noah Team

Join the Project Noah Team