Page 52 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Papilionidae
DISTRIBUTION Arabian peninsula, across southern Asia to China, Southeast Asia,
Papua New Guinea, and Australia; recent introductions into
Turkey, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Cuba
HABITAT Diverse, including savannahs, forests, riverbeds, and gardens,
up to 6,900 ft (2,100 m) elevation
HOST PLANTS Citrus spp. and scurf pea (Cullen spp.)
NOTE Caterpillar that invades Citrus and is an occasional pest
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but common over a wide geographic range

ADULT WINGSPAN
2¹³∕₁₆ in (72 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1⅝ in (42 mm)
PAPILIO DEMOLEUS
LIME SWALLOWTAIL
50
LINNAEUS, 1758

Young caterpillars of the Lime Swallowtail resemble bird
droppings and are usually ignored by predators. Late instars are
mostly green and camouflaged on their food plants until their last

molt, when they seek shelter as they feed. Development from
egg to adult takes 26 to 59 days. In colder climates the pupae may
overwinter, extending the generation time to several months.
Known as the Chequered Swallowtail in Australia, where it
feeds on scurf peas, the species will develop on Citrus species if
caterpillars are placed on the plant.

The Lime Swallowtail has increased its range in the past decade
or so, due to its strong flight and the expansion of agriculture

and urbanization. It has also been recorded from Portugal
(a single adult, in 2012) and continues to spread, becoming the
most widespread swallowtail in the world. The caterpillars are
a pest in Citrus stock nurseries from the Middle East to India, and
they are a potential threat to Citrus growing elsewhere.

The Lime Swallowtail caterpillar is cylindrical,
tapering toward the rear, and pale green with
lateral and two subdorsal rows of pink spots
edged with brown, a white ventrolateral line,
and a pair of short, eshy spines behind the
head. A black band occurs on the fourth and
fth segments. An orange-red osmeterium
Actual size
can be everted from the prothoracic segment.