Heraclides thoas brasiliensis

Description:

Family: Papilionidae Subfamily: Papilioninae Identification: Upperside of forewing has diagonal yellow band of square spots in a neat row. Wing Span: 4 1/8 - 5 inches (10.5 - 12.8 cm). Life History: Caterpillars resemble bird droppings and rest exposed on leaves. Flight: Year-round in the tropics, April-July in south Texas. Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the citrus family (Rutaceae) including Citrus spp., prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum), hop tree (Ptelea trifoliata); six species in the Piperaceae family. Adult Food: Flower nectar, including lantana, cesalpina, and bougainvilla. Habitat: Mid-elevation tropical forests and lowland edges. Range: South Texas south to Brazil. Very rare stray into Kansas and Oklahoma.

Notes:

To feel threatened design a pair of horns, pink pumpkin, and gives off a foul odor.