Small White caterpillar Small White caterpillar This makes it have a bad taste to predators.Ĭaterpillars of this genus can also release foul-smelling chemicals from a defensive organ gland. This caterpillar is also known for absorbing plant toxins. The habitat might be one of the elements that influence the green color of the caterpillar with its black dorsal stripes. Some caterpillars of the species might be brown, while others also differ in their green nuances. The green coloring is specific to the Black Swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes) which then turns into a mostly black butterfly. Black Swallowtail caterpillar Black Swallowtail caterpillar The caterpillar has orange-brown nuances with black secondary coloring, a combination also specific to the emerged Gulf Fritillary butterfly. Inner leave sections are preferred in the first instars with a preference for outer leaves in late instars. Gulf Fritillary caterpillars eat the leaves of their host plants before emerging as butterflies. A yellow egg is laid which then turns into a growing caterpillar. You can find Gulf Fritillary caterpillars (Dione vanillae) on different types of passiflora genus flowers. Gulf Fritillary caterpillar Gulf Fritillary caterpillar Tulip trees are a common host of the species. These caterpillars are seen on a wide range of hosts, including trees. These caterpillars have a brown color in the first instars which changes to green coloring in late instars.Įastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars are further distinguished by large eyespots on the dorsal side. This is also the case with the color-changing Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). Some caterpillars drastically change colors before pupating and becoming adult butterflies. Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar These caterpillars finally move away from milkweed in the fifth instar when they stop feeding. The rest of its instars show distinct black, white, and yellow bands across the body which grow in size as the caterpillar grows.Ĭaterpillars of this genus are commonly found on milkweed and they may become aggressive toward each other based on low food availability. This caterpillar is green or gray in its first instar. Monarch caterpillars (Danaus plexippus) go through 5 instars before emerging as adult common butterflies.

Zebra swallowtail caterpillar pictures