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Swallowtail larva in transit This caterpillar (larva) was moving to find a suitable location to enter the chrysalis stage. I located where it setup shop so I will be tracking it as it goes through he rest of its lifecycle. Hopefully I will be able to capture it at each phase. Geotagged,Giant Swallowtail,Papilio cresphontes,Summer,United States Click/tap to enlarge

Swallowtail larva in transit

This caterpillar (larva) was moving to find a suitable location to enter the chrysalis stage. I located where it setup shop so I will be tracking it as it goes through he rest of its lifecycle. Hopefully I will be able to capture it at each phase.

    comments (6)

  1. Would be really cool if you manage to track it! Posted 9 years ago
    1. Will try!
      Posted 9 years ago
    2. Day one "pupal"...
      Day one of Pupal I will post a series of images depending on any changes each day as this metamorphosis occurs. Day one post attachment. Bombyx mori,Geotagged,Giant Swallowtail,Papilio cresphontes,Summer,United States

      Posted 9 years ago, modified 9 years ago
      1. Nice! My suggestion is to keep adding such reference images from the main post so that we have one place that shows the entire progress. Another way would be to create a small list using "Add to list". Posted 9 years ago
  2. Day three... Note that this is not a silkworm as previously thought. It is a swallowtail.

    Chrysalis or Cocoon Day 3 Day (3) of the cocoon stage. Now that it is in this stage I no longer claim it is a silkworm. This is a Swallowtail chrysalis. Threads now hold the cocoon in place while it is developing. Very cool! Geotagged,Giant Swallowtail,Papilio cresphontes,Summer,United States
    Posted 9 years ago, modified 9 years ago
    1. Thanks for the correction, still cool to track its progress! Posted 9 years ago

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The giant swallowtail 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 considered to belong to a different species, "Papilio rumiko".

Similar species: Moths And Butterflies
Species identified by Stephen Philips
View Stephen Philips's profile

By Stephen Philips

All rights reserved
Uploaded Sep 17, 2016. Captured Sep 16, 2016 17:48 in E Britton Way, Tucson, AZ 85739, USA.
  • Canon EOS 5DS R
  • f/7.1
  • 1/80s
  • ISO320
  • 400mm