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Swallow tail butterfly-to-be

Papilio (Heraclides) cresphontes

Photo by The MnMs
Published on Project Noah
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20.7099, -89.0943

Field Notes

Description:

Some butterflies do not start their lifes as beauties. This one has chosen to pass its baby times as an unappetizing bird dropping look alike. May not look pretty but is a very smart strategy for survival.

Habitat:

Forests of Yucatan.

Reference Links:

GIANT SWALLOWTAIL Papilio cresphontes

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)
The MnMs
I think that you are right, ceherzog. I have seen the adults also in the same area. See my spotting: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/7344006 So I will ID it as such :-) thanks!
ceherzog
The Giant Swallowtail have caterpillars that look like that...if not the Giant some other Swallowtail. Was it on a plant in the citrus family? http://melanys.tripod.com/giant.htm

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
Mimetic Animals of the World
Mission
Mexico Horn of Plenty
Mission
Caterpillars and larvae of the World
Mission
Yucatan Peninsula Biodiversity

Tags

Photographed
PublishedSeptember 23, 2011

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