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Giant Swallowtail

Papilio cresphontes

Description:

The mature caterpillar resembles bird droppings to deter predators, and if that doesn't work they use their red osmeterium. These are 'horns' which they can display and then retract. The coloration is dingy brown and or olive with white patches and small patches of purple. Citrus fruit farmers often call the caterpillars orange dogs or orange puppies because of the devastation they can cause on their crops.

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7 Comments

Toucan
Toucan 11 years ago

Amazing larvae indeed, Mayra!

MayraSpringmann
MayraSpringmann 11 years ago

Wow!

Toucan
Toucan 11 years ago

Thanks for the ID, Env! And thank you, Sergio, Dane, and S. Frazier for changing the category!

DaneCole
DaneCole 11 years ago

Ahhh, what a wierd-looking face, but kinda beautiful the same time.

Scott Frazier
Scott Frazier 11 years ago

Moved to Arthropods :-)

Sergio Monteiro
Sergio Monteiro 11 years ago

They surely are, Toucan.

Toucan
Toucan 11 years ago

Does anyone know if these are Swallowtail's larvae??

Toucan
Spotted by
Toucan

San José, Costa Rica

Spotted on Jan 16, 2013
Submitted on Jan 16, 2013

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