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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Butterflies and Moths (Lepidoptera) » Butterflies and Skippers (Papilionoidea) » Swallowtails, Parnassians (Papilionidae) » Papilioninae » Fluted Swallowtails (Papilionini) » Papilio » Black Swallowtail - Hodges#4159 (Papilio polyxenes) » Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes asterius)
Photo#168418
Anise Swallowtail Caterpillar - Papilio polyxenes
Copyright © 2008 Darcy Ashton

Anise Swallowtail Caterpillar - Papilio polyxenes
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, USA
June 2, 2007
I think this is an Anise Swallowtail larva - Papilio zelicaon
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Contributed by Darcy Ashton on 5 February, 2008 - 8:41am
Last updated 23 April, 2018 - 11:55am

Moved
Moved from Black Swallowtail.
… David J. Ferguson, 8 July, 2009 - 6:01pm login or register to post comments

Maybe black?
Looks like a Black Swallowtail to me. What is the host plant?
… Brenda Van Ryswyk, 5 February, 2008 - 9:47am login or register to post comments

 
Papilio polyxenes
Indeed, definitely a Black Swallowtail; there's no other candidate from that part of the world. The larvae of Anise, Black, Old World, and a few other closely related Swallowtail species are almost identical, and most feed on Carrot Family plants. This one is about half grown, probably 3rd instar - just swithed from the "bird dropping" coloration to the striped pattern. When older it will loose the tubercles and will probably be more prevalently green.
… David J. Ferguson, 6 February, 2008 - 2:26pm login or register to post comments

Black Swallowtail, I think
- at least, according to this site, Oklahoma is outside the range of the Anise Swallowtail. Compare here. Looks like it was eating fennel, am I right?
… Hannah Nendick-Mason, 5 February, 2008 - 9:35am login or register to post comments

 
Fennel
yes I believe it is fennel. This photo was taken at a local herb garden.
… Darcy Ashton, 5 February, 2008 - 10:08am login or register to post comments

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