JungleDragon is a nature and wildlife community for photographers, travellers and anyone who loves nature. We're genuine, free, ad-free and beautiful.

Join

Caterpillar Defence Black Swallowtail caterpillar showing orange osmeterium partly everted - the defensive organ found in all stages of growth of papilionid larvae. It is everted when the larva feels threatened, perhaps as I had the macro lens a little too close!<br /> The everted organ resembles a fleshy forked tongue not unlike a snake tongue and this along with the large eye like spots on the body might be used to startle birds and small reptiles.<br /> <br /> <br /> Black Swallowtail,Caterpillar,Eastern Black Swallowtail Caterpillar,Geotagged,Lepidoptera,Macro,North America,Papilio polyxenes,Papilionidae,Summer,USA,United States,butterfly larva,fauna,osmeterium,pennsylvania Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Caterpillar Defence

Black Swallowtail caterpillar showing orange osmeterium partly everted - the defensive organ found in all stages of growth of papilionid larvae. It is everted when the larva feels threatened, perhaps as I had the macro lens a little too close!
The everted organ resembles a fleshy forked tongue not unlike a snake tongue and this along with the large eye like spots on the body might be used to startle birds and small reptiles.


    comments (2)

  1. View Christine Young's profile
    Christine Young
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Wonderful shot, Ruth! Did you notice any odor when the osmeterium was everted? Posted 5 years ago
    1. View Ruth Spigelman's profile
      Ruth Spigelman
      Lion
      View Lion class
      No Christine - may be as I was only treated to a partial eversion ha ha. Posted 5 years ago

Sign in or Join in order to comment.

The Black Swallowtail

The Black Swallowtail is a butterfly found throughout much of North America. It is the state butterfly of Oklahoma. An extremely similar-appearing species, "Papilio joanae", occurs in the Ozark Mountains region, but it appears to be closely related to "Papilio machaon", rather than "P. polyxenes".

Info 42 3
Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Christine Young
View Ruth Spigelman's profile

By Ruth Spigelman

All rights reserved
Uploaded Jul 16, 2018. Captured Sep 11, 2015 10:36 in 122 Burgess Field Rd, Uniontown, PA 15401, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 38,102 9,150 8
Captured in the summer. More summer photos.

This photo also appears in

Discover more photo collections