Yard Critter of the Week - Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar

Spicebush Swallowtail Caterpillar.

We arrived home from our Spokane - Glacier - Coeur d'Alene trip early evening yesterday, and Patty, during her patrol of the gardens (damn deer!), spotted this "snake". But it wasn't at snake, it was a caterpillar.

Some very cool mimicry going on here.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

Looking like a snake has its advantages. No doubt the birds that spy it jump away in surprise upon spotting. Although it does appear to have a friendly smile.

Image courtesy Patty Rehn

It has been a slow year so far for butterflies in our yard. But in addition to this we've, (where we've = Patty) have found Monarch caterpillars in the yard as well. Hopefully things are picking up.

This is the butterfly, which we've seen flittering about the yard (although this image is not from the yard; I'll keep trying ...).

🐛🐛🐛 🦋 🐛🐛🐛

You can find all of the Yard Critter posts listed here.