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Don | all galleries >> Galleries >> #a selection of butterflies# > Orchard Swallowtail caterpillar
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17-Apr-2013

Orchard Swallowtail caterpillar

Papilio aegeus, Papilionidae
in my garden, north Queensland, Australia
The "Orchard" in this species' name refers to the caterpillar's food preference for members of the citrus family including planted citrus trees.
I planted a native member of the family (Lime Berry, Micromelum minutum) specifically to attract this and another swallowtail species to my garden. Within a few weeks, this caterpillar appeared.
I was torn between survival of the small plant and that of the caterpillar; the caterpillar won but must have been taken by a predator as it disappeared some time before running out of food on its small host - no sign of a pupal case.
The caterpillar was rather obvious and made no attempt to hide, and there's an abundance of birds in my garden - Kookaburra, Currawong, Butcherbirds - that are likely to enjoy such a morsel.

See previous photo for the adult of the species.


other sizes: small medium large original auto
George McCarten31-Mar-2018 18:14
Thanks for your anecdote. Excellent close-up!
larose forest photos10-Aug-2017 20:56
An amazing caterpillar, so beautifully photographed. Interesting that it feeds on plants in the citrus family, like our giant swallowtail (also a Papilio) whose larvae feed only on such plants too. V
Anna & Christian RECK04-Oct-2015 13:25
Excellent capture of this marvelous caterpillar!! BV. Anna
carlogalliani12-Aug-2013 13:21
Great shot !
Ulla Kruys10-Aug-2013 10:10
A fine view of this fantastic caterpillar! V
Terry Sprague08-Aug-2013 20:30
Awesome! V
Yvonne08-Aug-2013 11:23
Awesome shot Don and a very interesting story! v
Irene Wehrli08-Aug-2013 10:46
Mother nature is just perfect and so is your picture Don!
Irene
joseantonio08-Aug-2013 04:10
Great find and capture. Lovely to read your information about it.V.
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