The swallowtail caterpillar is the larva of the swallowtail butterfly, an insect from the order Lepidoptera. Basically, all such caterpillars feed on vegetation, but you can also meet "gourmets" who do not disdain mushrooms and animal remains. Although such individuals are extremely rare, they nevertheless exist.
The caterpillar of the swallowtail caterpillar is very disliked by people involved in agricultural activities, as it is not only very large, but also voracious. It can significantly harm the crop. The larva did not like the fact that it is able to spoil wool products.
No insurance anywhere
Like any other butterfly larvae, the swallowtail caterpillar can secrete a thin but strong silk thread. Usually they use it in order to more firmly attach the cocoon to the support on which the chrysalis will be located. But this thread has other uses as well. When the swallowtail caterpillar crawls along the ground or a plant, it always leaves behind a thin, barely visible thread of silk, which serves as a kind of insurance. Thus, when the caterpillar breaks off the leaf, it will not fall down, but will hang on this pre-prepared "lounge".
Distinguishing Features
The swallowtail caterpillar has a green color, diluted with black stripes and yellow dots. This coloration is not found in other types of caterpillars, but this is not the main feature of this species. The most important distinguishing feature, by which the caterpillar of the swallowtail butterfly can be distinguished from any other, is bright orange and sometimes even red horns. At rest, they are hidden, and they are not visible, but as soon as the caterpillar is a little excited, these horns quickly straighten out, thereby scaring away other insects or small birds. And for greater persuasiveness, they can sometimes emit odorous substances, and then hardly anyone will want to eat the caterpillar.
Evolution
As soon as the larva hatches from the egg, it immediately begins to eat, and eat in very large quantities. They feed on plants such as parsley, hogweed and other umbellate and Compositae. By the end of summer, the caterpillar grows and gets so fat that it simply can no longer eat and practically does not move. As soon as such a moment comes, the larva attaches to the stem, hangs upside down and eventually turns into a chrysalis imprisoned in a cocoon. The cocoon itself is usually brown or light brown in color. In this form, the chrysalis stays all winter, and in the spring, as soon as everything blooms around, it turns into a beautiful magnificent swallowtail butterfly.
Cut to extinction
Today, in some areas, these butterflies and caterpillars are listed in the local Red Books. It is connected withtheir taste preferences, which include, for example, dill. That is why most people destroy the caterpillars and take them out of their plots, because if this is not done, they can significantly reduce the green yield. Thus, if you see this cute motley caterpillar on your site, you should not kill it, because it is not only very rare. From this "minke whale" one day a beautiful butterfly will appear. Want to see what a swallowtail caterpillar looks like? Photos are presented in this article.
