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Swallowtail

Papilio machaon

Photo by MihaiER
Published on Project Noah
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45.205, 21.9129

Field Notes

Description:

Swallowtail caterpillar.

Habitat:

Around 600m altitude, on the vegetation on the limestone slopes of the Caras Gorges.

Reference Links:

swallowtail (Papilio machaon), Papilio machaon, Bestimmungshilfe des Lepiforums: Papilio Machaon

Species ID Suggestions

Black Swallowtail

Papilio polyxenes

Reference Link
jprat001
1

Swallowtail et al.

Papilio machaon

Reference Link
EarlyStages
4

Comments (4)
MihaiER
@ 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.
EarlyStages
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").
jprat001
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?
EarlyStages
Papilio polyxenes is a New World butterfly that you are not likely to find in Romania.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
European Butterflies and Moths

Tags

Photographed
PublishedJanuary 28, 2012

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