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Eastern Black Swallowtail Caterpillar - Papilio polyxenes When provoked, the larvae of this species sprout eversible orange horns called osmeterium, which release a foul odor in order to deter predators. The osmeterium is a defensive, glandular organ that is coated in stinky chemicals, and is located at the base of the caterpillar&#039;s head. The osmeterial odor changes between species and within the life stages of the caterpillars. <br /> <br /> This particular caterpillar&#039;s osmeterium smelled like apples. You can actually see bits of the stinky fluid dripping off the osmeterium in this photo!<br /> <br /> Habitat: On fennel (Foeniculum sp.) in a rural garden<br /> <figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/83300/papilio_polyxenes_-_black_swallowtail_caterpillar.html" title="Papilio polyxenes - Black Swallowtail Caterpillar"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/3232/83300_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1716422410&Signature=xjCnwY3NON76gISvaETvJcihAP8%3D" width="134" height="152" alt="Papilio polyxenes - Black Swallowtail Caterpillar When provoked, the larvae of this species sprout eversible orange horns called osmeterium, which release a foul odor in order to deter predators. The osmeterium is a defensive, glandular organ that is coated in stinky chemicals, and is located at the base of the caterpillar&#039;s head. The osmeterial odor changes between species and within the life stages of the caterpillars. <br /> <br /> This particular caterpillar&#039;s osmeterium smelled like apples. You can actually see bits of the stinky fluid dripping off the osmeterium in this photo!<br /> <br /> Habitat: On fennel (Foeniculum sp.) in a rural garden<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/83301/eastern_black_swallowtail_caterpillar_-_papilio_polyxenes.html Black Swallowtail,Geotagged,Papilio polyxenes,Summer,United States,caterpillar,osmeterium,papilio" /></a></figure><br /> Black Swallowtail,Geotagged,Papilio polyxenes,Summer,United States,caterpillar Click/tap to enlarge

Eastern Black Swallowtail Caterpillar - Papilio polyxenes

When provoked, the larvae of this species sprout eversible orange horns called osmeterium, which release a foul odor in order to deter predators. The osmeterium is a defensive, glandular organ that is coated in stinky chemicals, and is located at the base of the caterpillar's head. The osmeterial odor changes between species and within the life stages of the caterpillars.

This particular caterpillar's osmeterium smelled like apples. You can actually see bits of the stinky fluid dripping off the osmeterium in this photo!

Habitat: On fennel (Foeniculum sp.) in a rural garden

Papilio polyxenes - Black Swallowtail Caterpillar When provoked, the larvae of this species sprout eversible orange horns called osmeterium, which release a foul odor in order to deter predators. The osmeterium is a defensive, glandular organ that is coated in stinky chemicals, and is located at the base of the caterpillar's head. The osmeterial odor changes between species and within the life stages of the caterpillars. <br /> <br /> This particular caterpillar's osmeterium smelled like apples. You can actually see bits of the stinky fluid dripping off the osmeterium in this photo!<br /> <br /> Habitat: On fennel (Foeniculum sp.) in a rural garden<br /> https://www.jungledragon.com/image/83301/eastern_black_swallowtail_caterpillar_-_papilio_polyxenes.html Black Swallowtail,Geotagged,Papilio polyxenes,Summer,United States,caterpillar,osmeterium,papilio

    comments (3)

  1. View Alexander Hassmueller's profile
    Alexander Hassmueller
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Wow, great shot! Posted one year ago
    1. View Christine Young's profile
      Christine Young
      Lion
      View Lion class
      Thanks, they are very photogenic! Posted one year ago
      1. View Alexander Hassmueller's profile
        Alexander Hassmueller
        Lion
        View Lion class
        Indeed, they look like they just jumped out of a fantasy comic book! Posted one year ago

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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 Christine Young's profile

By Christine Young

All rights reserved
Uploaded Aug 17, 2019. Captured Aug 17, 2019 08:04 in 91 Main St, Sharon, CT 06069, USA.
country flag of United States of America Explore United States of America 38,021 9,141 8
  • Canon EOS 80D
  • f/3.5
  • 1/197s
  • ISO100
  • 100mm
Captured in the summer. More summer photos.