Swallowtail caterpillars eat plants from the birthwort, citrus, carrot, and custard-apple families. Young caterpillars also eat plants from the magnolia, olive, laurel, and rose families.

News Outside: Among caterpillars, the swallowtails are unique A giant swallowtail caterpillar sticks out its osmeterium.

He darts among trees, searching for giant swallowtail eggs (minuscule) and caterpillars -- some smaller than rice grains -- on odorous rue plants that he grew solely to attract egg-laying adults.

The first time I saw a giant swallowtail butterfly years ago, I just happened to walk out to get the mail and saw it nectaring on lantana in my flower bed by the road. What a surprise! This huge pa… ...

Is that something a bird left behind? No, it's an orange dog caterpillar, the larvae of the Giant Swallowtail butterfly, which is native to our area. Believe it or not, ...

When they first hatch out of the egg black swallowtail caterpillars are black with a white stripe around the middle. At this stage they resemble a bird dropping, terrific camouflage for the young ...

Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. Giant swallowtail caterpillars are masters of disguise - they look like bird poop. When they are threatened, small glands emerge with a repellent chemical.

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.

Like other butterflies, a giant swallowtail goes through four life stages: egg, caterpillar-like larva, pupa (inside a chrysalis where it transforms into a butterfly), and adult butterfly.