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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 » Western Tiger Swallowtail - Hodges#4177 (Papilio rutulus)
Photo#336944
Caterpillar? - Papilio rutulus
Copyright © 2009 lindabrown

Caterpillar? - Papilio rutulus
Tahoe City, CA, Placer County, California, USA
September 16, 2009
Size: 2" long, 1/2" around
This is possibly a catepillar that was found on an Aspen tree in the Lake Tahoe Basin. What appears to be eyes are really markings. The critter's head is turned down for feeding. We've never seen anything like it on a hike before and hope someone out there knows what this guy is!
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Contributed by lindabrown on 25 September, 2009 - 7:05pm
Last updated 26 September, 2009 - 12:22am

I keep thinking that this might actually be
a Pale Tiger Swallowtail, based on the nature of the blue area in the eye spots. I'm not certain if this is really a difference between the two or not. The fact that this was in an Aspen favors Western Tiger, but the fact that it is brown means that it is in the wandering stage just prior to pupation, and it could already be a long way from it's original host. Also, I have several times watched Pale Tiger Swallowtails laying eggs on Aspen in western Colorado, so it can apparently use this tree as a host too.

Tentatively moved here from ID Request.
… David J. Ferguson, 26 September, 2009 - 12:16am login or register to post comments

Four eyes
A couple days ago I saw its eastern relative which has only two "eyes":
… John F. Carr, 25 September, 2009 - 8:47pm login or register to post comments

Western Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillar- Papilio rutulus
hes in pupation color, changed from green, and will overwinter there.



here the adult
… Edna Woodward, 25 September, 2009 - 7:15pm login or register to post comments

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