Black Swallowtail Caterpillar
Papilio polyxenes
31.816, -99.5121
Field Notes
Description:
Black swallowtail caterpillar in a defensive pose.
Notes:
He is on bronze fennel, one of the favoured host plants. I planted the bronze fennel last fall to attract them to my yard. I've had 7 caterpillars so far this spring.
The black swallowtail caterpillar has an orange "forked gland", called the osmeterium. When in danger, the osmeterium, which looks like a snake's tongue, everts and releases a foul smell to repel predators. -Wikipedia
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