Giant Swallowtail Update #2
(click on photo to enlarge)
We’ve been away for a few days, four to be exact, and during that time exponential growth occurred for the remaining two caterpillars. They are both at the third instar stage now and the largest one is a whopping 23 mm! Note how as they grow larger and become more visible to predators, they resemble not a tasty morsel but an unappealing bird dropping. A clever evolutionary ploy to avoid becoming snack food for a keen-eyed bird.
Even though they are thriving on leaves of dwarf Mexican Lime, they’re much daintier eaters than their Black Swallowtail relatives that consume much greater quantities of plant material. Perhaps parsley leaves are not as nutritious as citrus leaves so more are needed to take the caterpillar from that first instar caterpillar to a pupa.
I’ve looked for the other two caterpillars which were left on the lime bush to fend for themselves. They seem to have disappeared…..it’s a tough life out there.
Leave a Comment