In this climate, giant swallowtail eggs hatch in days to a week. The larvae, or caterpillars, experience five growth spurts called instars, each lasting about a week.

The first instar is black with a white band or saddle around its midsection. If the caterpillar does not move and if you do not look carefully, you will probably mistake it for a bird dropping. Some ...

Giant swallowtail caterpillars are masters of disguise - they look like bird poop. When they are threatened, small glands emerge with a repellent chemical. The chrysalis is brown and is often ...

Giant swallowtail caterpillars feed on plants in the rue or citrus family (Rutaceae). In southern states, that often means orange trees, and they can be a pest there.

No, it's an orange dog caterpillar, the larvae of the Giant Swallowtail butterfly, which is native to our area. Believe it or not, Digging In: Caterpillars take a bite out of citrus leaves, but ...