Heraclides Caterpillar

Thanks Keith! I must admit that during my stays in the neotropics I did not focus on the food plants, which I certainly would do today, since it may be very helpful for ID a species/genus.

http://biogeodb.stri.si.edu/bioinformatics/dfm/metas/search?stxt=Papilio+thoas These Costa Rican caterpillars can only be Heraclides cresphontes or H. thoas (the larvae of H. anchisiades, H. androgeus, H. astyalus, and H. isidorus look different), with cresphontes eating members of the Citrus family, while thoas feeds primarily on Piper.

I certainly confirm Heraclides sp. caterpillar, but I have not enough knowledge about separating Thoas and Cresphontes. I think we can trust Keith's ID.

Since these P. thoas/cresphontes caterpillars appear to be on a Piper plant (Piperaceae; please correct me if I am mistaken), they are almost certainly immature Thoas Swallowtails.

Sure is a strange looking creature. Thanks for sharing.