Eastern black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilo polyxenes) in defensive posture with "horns" partly extended and "spitball" forming. Horns give off offe

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Eastern black swallowtail caterpillar (Papilo polyxenes) in defensive posture with "horns" partly extended and "spitball" forming. Horns give off offensive odor and spit tastes bad, providing some defense against attacking predators. (See companion photo showing full extension.)

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Size: 3579px × 5336px
Photo credit: © Gerry Bishop / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

Keywords: black, butterfly, caterpillar, defense, defensive, eastern, erection, horns, mechanisms, odor, papilo, polyxenes, spit, spitball, swallowtail