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Ruby-spotted Swallowtail on leaf, Sani Lodge, Ecuador Many found on a single plant, it may be stripped of its leafs in a single night.<br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/130732/ruby-spotted_swallowtail_on_leaf_sani_lodge_ecuador.html" title="Ruby-spotted Swallowtail on leaf, Sani Lodge, Ecuador"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2/130732_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=4RTTP6h6EZizPBSZhOw%2BBjyX5VM%3D" width="200" height="134" alt="Ruby-spotted Swallowtail on leaf, Sani Lodge, Ecuador Many found on a single plant, it may be stripped of its leafs in a single night.<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/130733/caterpillarslarvae_on_leaf_sani_lodge_ecuador.html Ecuador,Ecuador 2021,Geotagged,Papilio anchisiades,Ruby-spotted Swallowtail,Sani Lodge,South America,Spring,World,Yasuni National Park" /></a></figure> Ecuador,Ecuador 2021,Geotagged,Papilio anchisiades,Ruby-spotted Swallowtail,Sani Lodge,South America,Spring,World,Yasuni National Park Click/tap to enlarge Promoted

Ruby-spotted Swallowtail on leaf, Sani Lodge, Ecuador

Many found on a single plant, it may be stripped of its leafs in a single night.

Ruby-spotted Swallowtail on leaf, Sani Lodge, Ecuador Many found on a single plant, it may be stripped of its leafs in a single night.<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/130733/caterpillarslarvae_on_leaf_sani_lodge_ecuador.html Ecuador,Ecuador 2021,Geotagged,Papilio anchisiades,Ruby-spotted Swallowtail,Sani Lodge,South America,Spring,World,Yasuni National Park

    comments (9)

  1. Awesome! They might be swallowtail larvae. Posted 3 years ago
    1. Maybe Papilio anchisiades. Posted 3 years ago
      1. Very impressive, I did some searching and found several near-identical photos. Thanks so much! Posted 3 years ago
        1. You're welcome! If you had given one a gentle poke, it would have sprouted its horns, like this:
          Papilio polyxenes - Black Swallowtail Caterpillar When provoked, the larvae of this species sprout eversible orange horns called osmeterium, which release a foul odor in order to deter predators. The osmeterium is a defensive, glandular organ that is coated in stinky chemicals, and is located at the base of the caterpillar's head. The osmeterial odor changes between species and within the life stages of the caterpillars. <br />
<br />
This particular caterpillar's osmeterium smelled like apples. You can actually see bits of the stinky fluid dripping off the osmeterium in this photo!<br />
<br />
Habitat: On fennel (Foeniculum sp.) in a rural garden<br />
https://www.jungledragon.com/image/83301/eastern_black_swallowtail_caterpillar_-_papilio_polyxenes.html Black Swallowtail,Geotagged,Papilio polyxenes,Summer,United States,caterpillar,osmeterium,papilio

          Posted 3 years ago
          1. Although, I don't recommend that you poke caterpillars in the jungle bc one could be a toxic species. Posted 3 years ago
            1. It's still a great tip, did not know that. Will tell Manuel to do it. Posted 3 years ago
              1. As long as he doesn't poke the wrong caterpillar ;) Posted 3 years ago
  2. Not easy to find few instar stages of caterpillars together. Awesome shot! Posted 3 years ago, modified 3 years ago
    1. Thanks! Posted 3 years ago

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"Papilio anchisiades", the ruby-spotted swallowtail or red-spotted swallowtail, is a butterfly of the family Papilionidae. It is found from southern Texas south to Argentina. Rare strays can be found up to Kansas, southeastern Arizona, and western Texas.

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Ferdy Christant
View Ferdy Christant's profile

By Ferdy Christant

All rights reserved
Uploaded Mar 2, 2022. Captured Nov 15, 2021 20:27 in 67C6X698+22.
  • NIKON D850
  • f/16.0
  • 1/60s
  • ISO64
  • 105mm