These Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillars are really growing! It seemed like just a few days ago they were tiny little things.
These guys have not been easy for me to photograph. They tend to come out from under the Spicebush leaves during the early evening hours, and I haven’t been getting home in time for decent light.
Today was a different day. Actually Leecy called me while I was still at work and said if I can get home at a decent hour, there would be some opportunities to take pictures of the Caterpillars and how much they’ve grown.
Below is a fairly decent sized Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar extending its “Osmeterium” (those yellow horns). It apparently thought Leecy’s thumb was getting a little too close.
.jpg "Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar Extending Osmeterium")
Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar Extending Osmeterium
Here’s another Caterpillar about the same size as the one above.
.jpg "Medium Sized Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar")
Medium Sized Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
The next couple of pictures are some of the larger Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillars. I’m not sure these are my favorite Butterfly Caterpillars, but they certainly rank towards to the top.
Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar Growing
Another Large Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar
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by texdr
4 comments
texdr - Hi CG!
I’m not really familiar with your camera, but I can offer a couple of suggestions. When you are taking pictures of things as small as Caterpillars to get crisp, clear shots it will help if use a tripod or something that keeps your camera really still will help. Another suggestion would be to make sure you have some pretty decent light. I’ve found that getting the sharpest pictures requires really good light otherwise my pictures tend to come out a little blurry. The last suggestion I have, from reading about your camera, is to try the “macro” setting if you haven’t tried that.
Hope some of that helps or gives you some ideas.
Let me know how it goes
LJune 26, 2010 – 11:07 pm
texdr - Hey Valerie!
They really are cool looking Caterpillars. I’ll try and get out tomorrow and get some more pictures. The big ones look really cool right now. I’d really like to take one inside so I can watch it form a Chrysalis, but I’m too afraid that it would be too stressful for the Caterpillars. I hope you find some while looking at the Sassafras. Shane will really enjoy watching these things grow!June 26, 2010 – 10:51 pm
Valerie Evanson - After Shane saw your photos of these very cool caterpillars, he insisted we try to lure them to our yard. We were able to find a spicebush at one of the local nurseries this afternoon. I guess we will be looking for them on sassafrass at the local parks when we’re looking for monarchs.June 26, 2010 – 4:57 pm
GG - Hi! I cam across your blog looking for some photos of baby black swallowtail caterpillars. My partner and I just discovered that we have eggs and tiny caterpillars in our dill and fennel in the yard. We are terribly excited about this and are trying to find out more information. I LOVE your photos! I have a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 that takes quite good pictures, but I can’t seem to get the closeups that I want of these babies. Any suggestions? I’ve bookmarked your site, by the way.
Oh, and we’re in Colorado.
Take care and I’ll be looking for more photos as your caterpillars grow!
GGJune 25, 2010 – 9:43 pm