Orange Dog Catapillar

Description:

This little caterpillar of the Citrus Swallowtail Butterfly has two main stages of caterpillar development. The first and most often seen is the stage in picture 5 where its resembles bird droppings. In the latter stage it appears as a large green caterpillar with brown, white and black markings. When under duress the latter stages arches back and exposes a red forked scent gland excreting a foul smelling citrus odour.

Habitat:

Citrus Trees, usually in Orchids where they are considered a pest.

Notes:

This individual caterpillar was observed on our lemon tree and photographed over the course of a week where the change to 2nd stage occurred. light tapping of the paper it was resting on caused it to arch and release smell glands. No harm came to the caterpillar in any way.