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.
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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.
© All rights reserved.