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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 » Eastern Giant Swallowtail - Hodges#4170 (Papilio cresphontes)
Photo#453344
caterpillar - Papilio cresphontes
Copyright © 2010 olive bonin

caterpillar - Papilio cresphontes
lake charles, calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, USA
September 10, 2010
Size: 1-2 inches
forked snake tongue and snake shaped head
eating satsuma leaves
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Contributed by olive bonin on 10 September, 2010 - 10:06am
Last updated 5 October, 2010 - 2:08pm

Moved
Moved from Butterflies (excluding skippers).
… David J. Ferguson, 5 October, 2010 - 2:08pm login or register to post comments

Moved
Moved from ID Request.
… john and jane balaban, 1 October, 2010 - 4:15pm login or register to post comments

Giant Swallowtail
thank you, I'm glad to know what it is...looks like it turns into
a very pretty butterfly...so, I guess they can eat all the satsuma leaves they want...
… olive bonin, 11 September, 2010 - 9:27am login or register to post comments

Giant Swallowtail Caterpillar
Papilio cresphontes. The "forked tongue" is an organ called the osmaterium, which is actually located behind the head. It not only looks a bit like a snake's tongue which goes well with the often "snake head" appearance of the caterpillar, but it also releases a chemical odor that is supposed to be repellent (though a lot of people think it smells rather pleasant and sweet).
… David J. Ferguson, 10 September, 2010 - 4:22pm login or register to post comments

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