photo: Colin Hutton
photo: Beth Kinsey, http://fireflyforest.net
photo: Ainali
photo: Jayman931
Habitat: ranges from across USA to Mexico, Islas Marías and onto Guatemala and Costa Rica
Status: Not Evaluated
These yummy-looking caterpillars are the larvae of the Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor). To me they look exactly like living pieces of red licorice. Unfortunately, they don’t taste anywhere near as good. The Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars feed on Aristolochia species which make them poisonous both as larvae and adults. Do you think the red licorice Red vines got their name from these Pipevines?
Just wondering.
