Swallowtail Butterfly Life Cycle!

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Nature, Here and Now! - Chris Egnoto

Жыл бұрын

This is the Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly is one of the most majestic butterflies in the Eastern United States. This is their complete life cycle. Spicebush Swallowtails - Papilio Troilus has a lot of tricks up it's sleeve though! The caterpillars look like snakes or treefrogs in order to confuse and deter predators. These butterfly caterpillars spend most of their life eating leaves of spicebush and sassafrass in order to prepare for metamorphosis into an adult butterfly. If their disguise doesn't work, they have another trick. They quickly stick out two tentacles known as their osmoeterium and it looks JUST LIKE a snakes toungue, only yellow or orange. The butterfly is often mistaken for the famous Black Swallowtail Butterflies, but they look different if you know what to look for.
#nature #animals #wildlife

Пікірлер: 46

@smetlogik Жыл бұрын

Ok, c'mon, who wouldn't want to come back as a spicebush? You get to look like a snake, have a sleeping bag/tent, remember your former life and turn into a cool looking butterfly.

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

I know, right? These really are fun species and it is so fun to raise them. I would say I raised about 8 to 10 of them. Any more than that, I would be out every other day to collect more food!

@karenwilkins6897 5 ай бұрын

I would definitely come back as one of these beautiful caterpillars ❤

@karenwilkins6897 5 ай бұрын

Absolutely beautiful caterpillars - purely stunning and cute

@ThePollaton Жыл бұрын

Mother Nature definitely has some cool tricks.

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

She most definately does!

@ScottALanter Ай бұрын

This came up in my recommended videos today and I'm glad it did, too. It was fascinating to watch from beginning to end. I knew a caterpillar grew into a butterfly. But, I had no idea the process was this involved. Amazing! I have a whole new appreciation for them now, especially the Spicebush Swallowtail. Incredible!

@AreteSr 11 ай бұрын

Awesome, Chris -- thanks for your clarity and for sharing such wonders as this spicebush-swallowtail lifecycle. True wonder at each stage.

@TheWildlifeBrothers Жыл бұрын

Spicebush swallowtails are probably my favorite local caterpillar, those eyespots are so cool and now that you mention it, it’s incredible how they have that white coloration that looks like reflected light, I never noticed that before. The adults are really pretty as well, and even spicebush itself is an awesome plant. I learned a lot as always, I hope I get to see some more invertebrates before it gets too cold! - Harrison and Evan

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

Hey. Yeah, I love that eyeshine. I mean they are reflective, but they also have the fake reflection. As adults, they are rather attractive, too. I do seem to be pretty into caterpillars, though. This has been a half dead year for insects in general, imo. Kind of bummed, but that happens. The drought, late frost and likely other factors played a role. I am hoping next year will be better!

@janicepell2441 10 ай бұрын

Okay Chris, so informative video I really enjoyed the whole video, I especially like how you get excited about telling us all about it. Truly a joy to watch, Thanks so much. A fan

@sapelesteve Жыл бұрын

Very interesting video Chris! The changes that occur during metamorphosis are truly incredible! Hope that all is well on your end my friend! Be well.... 👍👍🦋🦋🦋🦋

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! Yeah, I like the last instar color change. It doesn't last long before it starts the coccoon prep.

@naturewithgabe Жыл бұрын

Awesome documentation of a neat species!

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, Gabe. I am glad I managed to film them when I did. Time just seems to slip away, sometimes.

@fp1912 Жыл бұрын

I have a ton of related swallowtail catepillers on my tiny potted patio lemon tree. I have to relocte them sometimes to larger trees around my neighborhood since my lemon in not enough for all of them. But I have already found three split open chrysalises!

@AniFam Жыл бұрын

They are all very unique~👍 Thank you for sharing this video~🤗

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

You are welcome. Thank you so much for watching!

@CompetitiveFishingFreak 10 ай бұрын

Hello from Michigan near Lake Saint Clair Detroit area Zone 6b monarch butterfly and Black Swallowtail butterfly rearer,ive released 40 black swallowtail butterflies, next year I'm expanding to the pipevine swallowtails, spicebush Swallowtails,Red Admiral butterflies,and the Hummingbird clearwing Hawk moth

@donnadelaparra6433 Жыл бұрын

That was so cool Chris thanks for all that information loved it

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

@fp1912 Жыл бұрын

So cool!

@AaronAKPParrish 10 ай бұрын

Great video! Really informative. Thank you 🙏🏾

@chrisegnoto 9 ай бұрын

Wow, thank you so much. You are very welcome!

@bugtalk84 Жыл бұрын

The more mature caterpillars look like green elephant trunks with a pair of eyes. Mother Nature is so clever with designing her amazing creatures.

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

Lol, they do. There is another species (well, a few), that I wouldn't mind raising next year.

@theswordoftheevening9865 Жыл бұрын

I just watched your B & Y Orb Weaver video. I'm impressed by them too but my phobia is very strong. It looks like you live in my habitat by the animals and plants in the background. Very well done stuff as I can vet you as you go.

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

Cool, thank you. I love the Argiopes, but they are kind of rare, anymore. I am working on a video about the fear spiders invoke, atm. Should be out in a few days.

@theswordoftheevening9865 Жыл бұрын

@@chrisegnoto - it's when they move- centipedes, scorpions and Solfugids all trigger my brain. I love Jumping spiders and Millipedes. Praying Mantids are my favorite. I'd get one if the lived longer.

@AMomsLife316 Жыл бұрын

Very pretty caterpillar!

@cnnroutside Жыл бұрын

Such a pretty species! That snake-like appearance is amazing!

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

It is pretty cool. There are a few really cool caterpillars in my area

@thomaszaccone3960 Жыл бұрын

One of these caterpillars sticks out an orange projection from its front if you touch its back. It looks like a snake's tongue. I think it's called an osmo- something or other. Lepidopterans are beautiful. I love them but Odonates are my favorite. Orthopterans are kind of neat too and some beetles like tiger beetles.

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

Yep, osmetarium. I show that in this video and a couple other videos. I love finding moths, especially

@Agentmaxeybot23 Жыл бұрын

Hi it's me NL

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

Hi NL! Hlad to see you here. I hope everything is going great :)

@Wendykenson Жыл бұрын

You found caterpie!

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

I did, I raised many and they evolved!

@amyesworldcatherinesminime7945 Жыл бұрын

Who else had to replay and pause to see the subliminal message?

@7thangelad586 Жыл бұрын

How cool! The caterpillar actually looks like my niece’s snake drawings ;) The camouflage is so convincing. I wonder what prevents the initial larva from eating all of the eggs in the bunch if it hatches first.

@chrisegnoto Жыл бұрын

They really do look like a kid's drawing of a snake. I imagine that maybe they are somewhat programed just to go for their own before the leaves start smelling too appetizing or something. I will look into that.

@evangevii 10 ай бұрын

so I found a western tiger swallowtail caterpillar. He kept falling out of the tree for some reason. So I moved him carefully into a bigger container with dirt,the leaves and sticks that they eat. But he is not moving today? It’s like he is dead