Remember this caterpillar that was in yesterday’s post? Well Desleyjane (DJ) from “musings of a frequent flying scientist” has identified it for me. In fact she did a post about the trials and tribulations of her lime tree and this strange fellow a year ago. Do go over and check it out…
It is the larvae of the Orchid Swallowtail Butterfly, commonly called the Large Citrus Butterfly. Such a pretty thing and I have seen the butterfly fluttering around the garden, but never been able to get its photograph. I’m pleased I didn’t squash it.
Taken by fir0002 | flagstaffotos.com.au Canon 20D + Sigma 150mm f/2.8 – Own work
This is an image I found on the Wikipedia site with more details.
Thanks DJ for the information…
gypsy life 
One of Nature’s great transformations, from caterpillar to butterfly. Glad you resisted the urge to squash it, I might not have. 😉
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My neighbour just called me over to look at an identical caterpillar, quite a beauty. We do get the Orchid Swallowtail butterflies around here because we are near the mountains.
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You’d better nurture that chrysalis and get a good photo of its beautiful contents. 🙂
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Fantastic, Pauline. I got a shot yesterday of a blue mountain (or Ulysses) butterfly – they’re SO elusive. I was wrapped. Well done to DJ for identifying this one 😀
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My pleasure PP! I was so happy to see it in your post. They are such cool little critters.
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and the butterflies are beautiful
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Yes they are.
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Okay – I thought it was after your tomato plants! Lovely butterfly from such a scary looking caterpillar.
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So I still don’t know what is eating my tomatoes.
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Not a green patch or a prickle anywhere on the butterfly!
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No it doesn’t look anything like the caterpillar does it?
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