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Spicebush Swallowtail caterpillar

Papilio troilus

Photo by Latimeria
Published on Project Noah
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39.42, -81.3624

Field Notes

Description:

Green caterpillar, but may be brown (very similar to bird poop) when in its first few instars. The caterpillar has eye spots that make it look like a small snake, and can evert a Y-shaped osmeterium when threatened.

Habitat:

The caterpillar lives on Spicebush plants. Look for curled-up leaves.

Notes:

Found at the Barbara A. Beiser Field Station.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)

This is my favorite of all the Swallowtail caterpillars, and the snake mimic instar is just wild.

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