Tailed Jay Caterpillar (Late instar)
Graphium agamemnon agamemnon
14.33, 121.09
Field Notes
Description:
The caterpillar of Graphium agamemnon agamemnon (Linnaeus, 1758), of family Papilionidae, subfamily Papilioninae, initially is dark green or brown with a white patch and a humped thorax. Each segment has a short soft spine on each side, and the tail has a pair of spines. Later instars (including this spotting) become plain green with short soft black horns. The caterpillar everts a pair of soft yellow horns from behind the head when disturbed, and produces a pungent smell.
The caterpillar feeds by day on the young leaves of various plants in Annonaceae, including Custard Apple (Annona reticulata),
Soursop/Guyabano (Annona muricata), and Sugar Apple/Atis (Annona squamosa).
Habitat:
Backyard, spotted on an Atis tree (Annona squamosa).
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