Caterpillar of the giant swallowtail,Papilio cresphontes,with its scent horns (osmateria) extended. Early stages resemble a fresh bird dropping and this caterpillar is highly dependent upon its camouflage for protection,but when disturbed it extends its normally hidden scent horns. They produce a foul smelling substance that is thought to deter predation. Giant swallowtail butterflies are found over a large portion of the southeastern US,west and south into much of South America. During summer it extends its range northward as far as Canada. Photo,Dallas,Texas,USA,on a citrus,a plant that this caterpillar is often a pest of. In citrus growing regions this caterpillar is often known as the 'orange dog' | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Nature's Images, |
Taille de l’image : | 2560 px × 3484 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
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