Observation date: August 09, 2012
Submitted by: Jyanez88
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: The caterpillar was in my home garden, there is various herbs I have oregano, spearmint, basil, parsley, rosemary, & , fruit plant(papaya), Lemongrass shrub. The caterpillar was in a Rue shrub which it has fed from I noticed it when my sister and mother pointed it out what it has ate. I placed the caterpillar on the dirt and it went back to where it was exactly to the Rue sprig it has been feeding from. The caterpillar is 2.5 inches long and .5 inches wide. Its skin appears to be the texture of a velveteen fabric. The weather was around the mid 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The plant next to the Rue is the papaya plant.
Status: Resident
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: August 10, 2012
Coordinator notes: Well, what you have may be the first record of a Giant Swallowtail eating Rue as a larva in California. Rear that to adult and you may have a swallowtail with a 4-6 inch wingspread. They have only recently expanded their range into your area.
