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Papilio machaon
Swallowtail caterpillar.
Around 600m altitude, on the vegetation on the limestone slopes of the Caras Gorges.
@ jprat001 and @EarlyStages, thanks for suggestions.
I researched a bit after you guys showed me a direction, and EarlyStages is right papilio machaon is common in Romania, and after I saw the pictures I remembered seeing it many times...
Thank you both.
Yes, all caterpillars of the butterfly family Papilionidae – which includes about 550 species of Swallowtails, Birdwings, Mormons and Helens, Jays, Festoons, Apollos, etc. – possess an osmeterium (from the Greek word for "smell").
good to know haha. it looks very similar, do you know if P. machaon has antenna that poke out when you touch the head of the caterpillar also?
Papilio polyxenes is a New World butterfly that you are not likely to find in Romania.
Spotted on May 20, 2007
Submitted on Jan 28, 2012
