Caterpillar id needed, black swallowtail cat maybe??

ams2009

13 years ago

I found this caterpillar on a satsuma tree that had a few gst cats on it, it's obviously not a gst and i have been unable to figure out what it is, any info appreciated, thanks. Sorry for the bad pic, i didnt have anyway to upload so had to use a picture of a picture, lol. thanks

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Comments (5)

runmede
13 years ago
That could be a black swallowtail. They will use citrus.

Here is a link that might be useful: Images of butterfly and caterpillar
mechelle_m
13 years ago
I don't think the black swallowtail uses citrus, but the giant swallowtail does. But that doesn't look like a giant swallowtail. The GST cat is brownish black with that white bird poo look (saddle) and it will look like a fresh dropping: it appears wet! The BST doesn't have the fresh look to it. Hope this helps you id your cat.

Mechelle
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Caterpillars get completely still when they're molting, that is, shedding the old, overstretched skin for a bigger one. They also go off and get real still before emptying their bowels big time/purging, and then pupating - pupation is the last molt. You can cut off the leaf the caterpillar is on, just be careful not to disturb it. Black swallowtails are among the most unpredictable of butterflies as to whether they'll overwinter or emerge soon, but in June, it's most likely that all or most of them will emerge this year. They stay in their chrysalides for about ?2 weeks, can't remember exactly, since I don't keep track of it, and it varies with individuals. I do remember that black swallowtails emerge more quickly than just about any other swallowtail, probably because they're smaller. Don't be surprised if all but one or two emerge, and those two emerge next spring, though. A screened in porch is a good place for them to be, provided mice or other possible porch critters can't reach them. A shaded spot outside is the best site - mine are in cages on my covered front porch. Good luck! Sherry
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If this is the first caterpillar you've raised, you may not know about molting. Cats eat until their skin can't hold any more, then they molt into a new, bigger skin. During this time, they're completely still and don't eat. So don't try to force the cat to eat - it may be molting. That said, if the cat prefers peach, give it peach. Also, caterpillars, especially young ones, much prefer young, tender leaves to old, tough ones. Since your cat is so young, give it tender leaves. I don't know how you're keeping them fresh, but I put mine in left overs containers, and punch holes in the tops where I insert the short branches. If you cut down too close to the new growth, the leaves will droop, so you need to cut further down on the branch, and then insert that in the hole of the plastic container top. I also wash the leaves with the sprayer on my kitchen sink - you need to be sure you don't put in any spiders or other predators, and the sprayer will knock them off, also any other nastiness on the leaf. Sherry
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Thank you guys so much! I am worried because it's my first time, also because I just moved in a new apartment where I do have a private garden and a shed, but I don't know if there are any vermin. As for the BST I have never laid my eyes on them in live, only saw them on google. I was staying few months with my MIL and she lives in country side and has a huge garden, so she gave me a little part to do my vegetable garden. Since I am crazy about herbs (I gome from Republic of Georgia, where we cook with tons of herbs) I planted all sorts and few weeks ago when I went to clean up my garden I found those. Neighbour told me they made white butterflies, but after googling I found out what they were. As a kid in Georgia I used to have silkworms and since then I always wanted to breed butterflies, never really got to it since we have been moving all around Europe. I just got lucky and I want to carry on. I was planning to get some butterfly kits and nets online, but when I saw their prices I made the netting myself as I am sure many of you do. Now when I picked my Dill and Parsley there seemed to be another egg and it's hatched now, I am going to visit my MIL and check my plants if I find some more. Thanks everyone for helping and sorry to be a pain. BTW I am having problems uploading photos directly from my PC, gonna figure that out so I can share some photos too, Another question, container does nod need to have air holes?
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lol, i dont know. you folks have me pretty hooked, and yes, my kids are thinking this could be a bad addiction. somewhere in this forum ( i really need to find a system to remember what conversations i have participated in) i mentioned that this was my best year for butterflies. well, today, i was transplanting one of my hibiscus plants, and found a bright green cat on the underside of one of the leaves. before this forum, i didn't even realize this was the season to begin. i need instruction on what to do to keep it alive. i dont have a cat home, its still on the bush, and i am on my way to find some way to identify it. since my first visit to this forum, i have so many plans for my gardens next year!!this could definitley keep me smiling through the winter.
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fighting8r
13 years ago
Yeah the GST does not have those little nubs sticking out at this stage, nor does it have such "spotty" markings.
Funny runmede that you mention that BSTs can use citrus. I read somewhere that "sometimes they use citrus" - somewhere besides the above post, I mean. And the other day I'd been out and picked up a few teeny BST cats on a couple tiny sprigs of dill, and three or so GST eggs, attached to small pieces of citrus leaves. All I had was one water bottle so put the whole lot in there.
Well later on when I realized "hey I need to get those cats out of the water bottle!" - I could've sworn the orange leaves that had been in there had been much bigger. And there were no GST cats, just eggs in there. But I KNOW BSTs don't eat citrus. Well anyway I'm not sure but I could swear there was much more to the citrus leaves with the GST eggs attached. Was I crazy or did the BSTs eat it? Maybe something to try again another time and see what happens, this time actually paying attention to the leaves and cats. Always something!
kelly
tdogmom
13 years ago
Where are you located?
This is definitely not a Giant Swallowtail but more in line with a Black Swallowtail or Anise Swallowtail.
ams2009
Original Author
13 years ago
Baton rouge, Louisiana, I was literally on the way out of town headed for Memphis for a weekend trip when I saw this cat, this is my mother's satsuma tree and I was over there to relocate two gst cats that were on my lemon tree(due to red wasps, which killed a little over 20 cats in a matter of hours the day before, caught one in the act and was horrified!). I already had the satsuma at my mom's house covered in mesh just in case there are wasps hanging around over there too. Anyway, since I was leaving, I wasn't able to bring this cat in and haven't been able to find it since I got back in town on Monday, but I did find two eggs and took those leaves home with me to see what hatches, I'm hoping for a black swallowtail!!! I did find info, after google searching quite a while, that bst's will use citrus for a host plant, most sites I looked at didn't mention this though. Thanks!

Caterpillar id needed, black swallowtail cat maybe??

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runmede

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Caterpillar id needed, black swallowtail cat maybe??

Comments (5)

runmede

mechelle_m

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fighting8r

tdogmom

ams2009Original Author

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