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Project Noah Nature School
Papilio anactus
An early instar of the caterpillar of a Dainty Swallowtail. It was about 10 mm long. The black body had bright yellow bands and was covered with fleshy spikey outgrowths. The head showed a pair of short tentacle-like growths. Also seen on the leaf was the sloughed skin suggesting a recent moult.
Spotted on a native finger lime (Citrus australasica) in a suburban garden.
The caterpillar will grow up to 35 to 40 mm before pupating. Unfortunately parasitisation by tachinid flies are said to be common.
Pics 2 & 3 were taken 8 days later -almost 35 to 40 mm long.
Pics 4 & 5 are of the chrysalis seen about 4 days after pics 2 & 3 were taken. It was very difficult to spot the chrysalis as it looked very much like a large gall induced by a citrus gall wasp - the green and pale cream patches looked part of the branch. A thin thread-like girdle can be seen harnessing the pupa to the branch. One end of the chrysalis is bifurcated - seen in Pic 4. This is typical for this species.
This chrysalis might stay dormant over winter.
http://www.backyardbuddies.org.au/bugs/f...
Family: Papilionidae
Spotted on Mar 9, 2017
Submitted on Mar 9, 2017
1 Comment
A beautiful caterpillar....