Page 48 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Papilionidae
DISTRIBUTION Northern, eastern, and southern Australia, and New Guinea
HABITAT Citrus orchards, river valleys, open moist lowland forests,
and eucalypt woodlands
HOST PLANTS Cultivated and native Citrus spp.
NOTE Day-feeding caterpillar that is a minor pest of Citrus
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common

ADULT WINGSPAN
4–4¼ in (100–110 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
2⅛–2⁹∕₁₆ in (55–65 mm)
PAPILIO AEGEUS
ORCHARD SWALLOWTAIL
46
DONOVAN, 1805

Orchard Swallowtail caterpillars hatch from eggs laid singly on
young Citrus shoots a few days earlier. Although the caterpillars

are camouflaged, blending in well with Citrus foliage, they are
frequently parasitized by wasps and flies. To deter predators,

the caterpillars evert their forked, bright red osmeterium, which
emits a Citrus smell. The caterpillars feed diurnally, resting
by night on the upper side of leaves. Development from egg
hatch to pupation takes 24 to 27 days under warm temperatures,
with short day lengths hastening development and inducing
pupal dormancy.

In southern areas of Australia the pupae overwinter, but in
northern areas breeding continues year-round. The Orchard
Swallowtail is a minor pest of young Citrus plants in inland
irrigated areas of New South Wales, Victoria, and South
Australia, and can also defoliate young Citrus plants in home
gardens. Damage is rarely noticed on mature Citrus trees.
A number of subspecies occur in tropical areas north of Australia.

The Orchard Swallowtail caterpillar is green
with paired spines along the body dorsally.
There are variable lateral and dorsal oblique
bands and spots. The thorax has a brown area
ventrolaterally, extending obliquely backward
and upward to form a band on the rst
abdominal segment. Ventrally, the prolegs
and body are white, and the head is black.

Actual size