Polydamas Swallowtail caterpillars munch holes in Aristolochia leaves
Swallowtail caterpillars have a defense mechanism called osmeterium. Osmeterium is a fleshy organ where caterpillars of swallowtail species sequester essential oils from their host plants, also known as terpenes. These oils coat the normally hidden osmeterium which can be everted or pushed out when the caterpillar is threatened. These caterpillars have their osmeterium everted but see below for osmeterium everted.
The osmetierium are usually a bright warning color like red, yellow or orange and because of the terpenes smell quite foul. Having to move swallowtail caterpillars to new host plants also means that butterfly growers get their share of osmeterium love as the caterpillars arch backwards wildly, smearing predators faces and keepers hands alike with gross smelling oils. Each species has its own unique odor based upon what plants the caterpillar has been eating.
Check out this video of this caterpillar eating... and eating... and eating!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dryUAicVSEQ
Here is one of it laying eggs...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_A-v-9BQlo
And here is a caterpillar transforming into a cocoon.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4iWSMxlFFQ&feature=related
Jeff Kaplan, one of Fairchild Garden's butterfly experts shared an interesting "butterfly tidbit" with me. Butterflies emerge from their cocoon full size... and don't grow after that!
Polydamas caterpillar on Aristolochia vine
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, FL
For more, see my set Lubbers, Butterflies and Bees.
Polydamas Swallowtail caterpillars munch holes in Aristolochia leaves
Swallowtail caterpillars have a defense mechanism called osmeterium. Osmeterium is a fleshy organ where caterpillars of swallowtail species sequester essential oils from their host plants, also known as terpenes. These oils coat the normally hidden osmeterium which can be everted or pushed out when the caterpillar is threatened. These caterpillars have their osmeterium everted but see below for osmeterium everted.
The osmetierium are usually a bright warning color like red, yellow or orange and because of the terpenes smell quite foul. Having to move swallowtail caterpillars to new host plants also means that butterfly growers get their share of osmeterium love as the caterpillars arch backwards wildly, smearing predators faces and keepers hands alike with gross smelling oils. Each species has its own unique odor based upon what plants the caterpillar has been eating.
Check out this video of this caterpillar eating... and eating... and eating!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=dryUAicVSEQ
Here is one of it laying eggs...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_A-v-9BQlo
And here is a caterpillar transforming into a cocoon.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4iWSMxlFFQ&feature=related
Jeff Kaplan, one of Fairchild Garden's butterfly experts shared an interesting "butterfly tidbit" with me. Butterflies emerge from their cocoon full size... and don't grow after that!
Polydamas caterpillar on Aristolochia vine
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, FL
For more, see my set Lubbers, Butterflies and Bees.