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Project Noah Nature School
Papilio troilus
Adult is a black swallowtail with orange spot-bands on median and submargine of hindwing and a cloud of bluish-green on the hindwing topwing.
Woodland, garden
I had been watching an orbweaver for a few weeks and one day when I checked on her she had this Spicebush swallowtail larva caught in her web (the second pic is how I found the larva). The spider was hiding in her leaf-cave. I don't usually mess with nature but I had to rescue this beauty, hoping that it was still alive. It took a few hours to start moving around again, but it soon got back to normal. The reason the larva got in trouble is because it was on "walkabout", looking for a place to pupate. I brought the larva inside and on Sept. 15 it made its silk button and sling (notice the change in color from green to yellow), and on Sept. 17 it pupated. Host plants include sassafras and spicebush.
Spotted on Sep 13, 2012
Submitted on Nov 21, 2012
13 Comments
Thank you Ursula. I've only ever found a few caterpillars even though we get bunches of butterflies in the yard every year. They hide really well, wrapped up in the leaf during the day. When I've found them they're always moving, looking for a place to pupate.
cute spotting-i wish i found that! :)
Thank you Aleja
Beautiful!!
Thank you Mayra and Augusto
WOW!!!!!!!l LOVELY!!!!
Cool
Thank you Chocolochao
Very cool
Thank you all. Yuko I will share the butterfly image next spring when it ecloses.
Wonderful series and it sure is one lucky larva! Please share with us when it becomes a butterfly. :)
Very nice rescue!
So cool