Western Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar - Papilio rutulus In the hills on the Oakland / Berkeley border, Alameda County, California, USA October 14, 2008 Size: 4-5 cm long x 1.5 cm thic
Larva (caterpillar) for Western Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio rutulus) butterfly found on wooden steps in my garden, at an elevation of about 900 ft.. Shapiro's field guide says this caterpillar is rarely seen because it is usually high in trees. We had very high winds during three days previous to my finding this creature - seems likely it was blown out of a tree. Posed for these pictures on Western Spice Bush, which is probably not a host plant.
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