photo sharing and upload picture albums photo forums search pictures popular photos photography help login
Flora | all galleries >> Galleries >> Butterflies and Moths > Giant Swallowtail
previous | next
12-NOV-2008

Giant Swallowtail

The giant swallowtail (Papilio cresphontes) is the largest butterfly in North America. It is abundant through many parts of eastern North America; populations from western North America and down into Panama are now (as of 2014) considered to belong to a different species, Papilio rumiko. Though it is often valued in gardens for its striking appearance, its larval stage can be a serious pest to citrus farms, which has earned its caterpillars the names orange dog or orange puppy.The giant swallowtail caterpillars possess remarkable camouflage from predators by closely resembling bird droppings. They use this, along with their osmeteria, to defend against predators such as wasps, flies, and vertebrates.
Wikipedia

Canon PowerShot G9
1/10s f/4.8 at 44.4mm iso80 full exif

other sizes: small medium large auto
share
Commenting on this page requires a PBase account.
Please login or register.