There is definitely a sense of thrill when you find a caterpillar that is not as abundant in the garden.

This morning a scan of our citrus tree revealed a very small giant swallowtail caterpillar hanging out on a leaf. When the caterpillar is young, they are predominately black, or brown, with a white saddle. When they become older, the saddle becomes white, or cream, while the remaining part of the caterpillar is dark brown.

Since it is probably in the first instar, I cut off the branch it was on and put it in a vase of water. I used saran wrap to stuff in the hole, so the caterpillar is safe from falling into the water. I sure hope this caterpillar makes it to the chrysalis stage and beyond. The giant swallowtail is absolutely stunning.

As always here’s a link to my page about giant swallowtails for more photographs and information: https://bit.ly/3KrqvKs.

The giant swallowtail, Papilio Cresphontes Cramer, is said to be very abundant in Florida. The caterpillar has been said to be a pest, and has been known as “orangedogs,” as it feeds heavily on citrus leaves. The wings are magnificent with a forewing span of 11.7 to 17.5 cm for males and 13.5 to 18.8 cm for females.