Swallowtail caterpillar is the larva of a swallowtail butterfly, an insect from the order Lepidoptera. Basically, all such caterpillars feed on vegetation, but you can also find "gourmets" who do not disdain mushrooms and the remains of animal origin. Although such individuals are extremely rare, but nevertheless they are.
The caterpillar of the swallowtail butterfly is very unloved by people engaged in agricultural activities, as it is not only very large, but also voracious. It can significantly damage 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 isolate a thin but durable silk thread. Usually they use it in order to firmly attach the cocoon to the support on which the pupa will be located. But this thread has another use. When a machaon caterpillar creeps along the ground or 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 does not fall down, but hangs on this pre-prepared "lounge".
Distinctive features
The swallowtail caterpillar has a green color, diluted with black stripes and yellow dots. This color is not found in other species of caterpillars, but this is not the main feature of this species. The main distinguishing feature, according to which the caterpillar of the swallowtail butterfly can be distinguished from any other, is the bright orange and sometimes even red horns. At rest, they are hidden, and they are not visible, but only the caterpillar is a little excited, as these horns quickly straighten, thereby scaring away other insects or small birds. And for greater persuasiveness, they can sometimes emit odorous substances, and then hardly anybody wants to eat a caterpillar.
Evolution
As soon as the larva hatches from the egg, it immediately begins to eat, and it is eaten in very large quantities. They feed on such plants as parsley, hogweed and other umbellate and Asteraceae. By the end of summer, the caterpillar is so growing and getting fat that it simply can no longer eat and practically does not move. As soon as such a moment arrives, the larva attaches itself to the stem, hangs upside down and eventually turns into a chrysalis, sharpened in a cocoon. The cocoon itself usually has a brown or light brown color. The doll is in this form all winter, and in spring, as soon as everything around opens up, it turns into a beautiful magnificent butterfly, the swallowtail.
On the verge of extinction
Today, in some areas, these butterflies and caterpillars are listed in the local Red Books. This is due to their taste preferences, which include, for example, dill. That is why most people destroy caterpillars and remove them from their sites, because if this is not done, they can significantly reduce the yield of greenery. 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 "whale" one day a beautiful butterfly will appear. Want to see what a swallowtail caterpillar looks like? Photos are presented in this article.