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Another caterpillar (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter nikki
- Start date
IanF
Moderator
Hi Nikki,
On behalf of Admin and the Moderators, Welcome to Bird Forum :t:
I'm afraid I can't help with the ID either, in fact I struggle with the UK bugs, let alone those from across the Pond. Hopefully someone will be able to help you out with what is an excellent photo of a very colourful caterpillar.
On behalf of Admin and the Moderators, Welcome to Bird Forum :t:
I'm afraid I can't help with the ID either, in fact I struggle with the UK bugs, let alone those from across the Pond. Hopefully someone will be able to help you out with what is an excellent photo of a very colourful caterpillar.
Gerry Hooper
Certified User
Swallowtails are in California.
This doesn't look quite right, maybe Tiger Swallowtail??
This doesn't look quite right, maybe Tiger Swallowtail??
nikki
Member
Thank you for that last post! I have an extensive flower garden and I have seen a number of swallowtails fluttering about. This particular caterpillar has just begun to pupate and is right next to my parsley & dill plants in the herb garden. I did some research and it seems to be a black swallowtail or similar variety. They are otherwise known as "Parsley worm" or American swallowtail larva. In spite of the fact that it undoubtedly has been feasting upon my herb garden, I think I shall keep this one, using it as an educational sample for my children and photographing its metamorphosis.
- Nikki :cat:
- Nikki :cat:
Gerry Hooper
Certified User
No it's not that one.It's better looking than that brute!
Good luck with the metamorphasis Nikki.:t:
Good luck with the metamorphasis Nikki.:t:
Shell
Well-known member
caterpillar help
Hey Nikki - I think you have the black swallowtail . Here's a link with pics & info.
http://home.att.net/~nnthom266/swallow/swallowtail.htm
Hey Nikki - I think you have the black swallowtail . Here's a link with pics & info.
http://home.att.net/~nnthom266/swallow/swallowtail.htm
nikki
Member
it seemed so, but...
OK, now this is weird! I thought I had correctly identified the caterpillar (as did Shell) as an American Black Swallowtail larva. However, the butterfly that emerged from that chrysalis last Tuesday (after 13 days) was emphatically NOT a Black Swallowtail. It was an Anise Swalllowtail. It is virtually identical to a Western Swallowtail except for the larva: the Anise Swallowtail larva looks very much like the Black Swallowtail, whereas the Western Swallowtail larva looks nothing like the one I photographed.
See
http://mamba.bio.uci.edu/%7Epjbryant/biodiv/lepidopt/papilio/anise.htm
Also see attached photos.
OK, now this is weird! I thought I had correctly identified the caterpillar (as did Shell) as an American Black Swallowtail larva. However, the butterfly that emerged from that chrysalis last Tuesday (after 13 days) was emphatically NOT a Black Swallowtail. It was an Anise Swalllowtail. It is virtually identical to a Western Swallowtail except for the larva: the Anise Swallowtail larva looks very much like the Black Swallowtail, whereas the Western Swallowtail larva looks nothing like the one I photographed.
See
http://mamba.bio.uci.edu/%7Epjbryant/biodiv/lepidopt/papilio/anise.htm
Also see attached photos.
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