CLOSED: What is this.

This was on my patio.

I don't know what that is, but its a little creepy! Is it some sort of deformed baby snake or something? It has the forked tongue....did it have legs?

Kristie

Slips my mind right now, as to just WHICH - - but it is the caterpillar of one of the Swallowtail butterflies!!

Tis a mitey interesting read about these guys ..

I think perhaps it's the Spicebush Swallowtail (Papilio troilus)
> http://davesgarden.com/bf/go/94/

- Magpye

I think it's an Eastern Tiger caterpillar. The 'fork' is the osmeterium, or scent gland that gives off a foul odor when diturbed. It's used for defense.
They become a beautiful butterfly.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.enature.com/butterflies/butterflies_m/BU0637_1m.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.enature.com/articles/detail.asp%3FstoryID%3D584&h=182&w=272&sz=11&hl=en&start=9&um=1&tbnid=NPCFOPKHjOvMpM:&tbnh=76&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3Fq%3Deastern%2Btiger%2Bcaterpillars%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den

It looks a lot like it...are the big scary eyes just markings to scare predators(and humans like me) away?

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hcp4.net/mercer/images/caterpillarW.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hcp4.net/mercer/mpatreasures.htm&h=294&w=250&sz=27&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=AkPQ_2W7Kvie_M:&tbnh=115&tbnw=98&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dspicebush%2Bswallowtail%2Bcaterpillar%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dopera%26rls%3Den

Ok, yeah its the Eastern Tiger caterpillar. The swallowtail has some extra spots on its "face" and doesn't have the line around the neck. Gross...I didn't know caterpillars were this..."interesting".....

Kristie

I agree with Magpye, it is definitely a Swallowtail cat. The 'snake look' seems like it would be a good scary tactic, and then add in the 'smell'.

I think the Eastern Tiger ST has a brown and green form, but can't find it anywhere.

This message was edited Jun 18, 2007 10:22 PM

hehehe...just got that Eastern Tiger is a type of swallowtail....either way, ET is definately what it is....And, I must say you may have saved a future caterpillar's life....I might dispose of something like that if I saw it! Creepy

Kristie

Haha, good to know Kristie....I'm making it my life's work to save the ugly caterpillars of the world! lol

Thanks for the clarification of which swallowtail, fly_girl. I knew it was one of 'em. These days, I can't seem to 'keep' much in my wee ol brain, for very long ..

- Magpye

This message was edited Jun 18, 2007 8:55 PM

I hear you on that! I keep hoping I will some day get enough books to cover all of them, but it may break the bank first.

BTW Kristie.....those snake eyes are fake! Good thing cat predators can't google!

lol...yes, good thing cats haven't figured out the puter....although I'm sure they get distracted by the "mouse" from time to time. Yeah, after looking at the creepy little thing for awhile and then knowing it was a caterpillar I figured those eyes were just markings....but it would be enough to keep me away from it! It reminds me of the horror movies where the dolls come to life....those giddy smiles and big, unblinking eyes....aahhhhhhh.....lol

Kristie

Thanks everyone. It also had a long snout when extended out and the forked tongue extended out also. weirdest thing I'd ever seen.

Oh gees, it just gets creepier and creepier....If I ever direct a horror flick, it will be "Invasion of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Caterpillars From Mars". Look for it, it will be coming to a theater near you! :)

Kristie

;-)