Swallowtail (Papilio canadensis) Butterfly Caterpillar

Observation: Marilyn Neck was walking along the bike trail and she saw this unusual looking caterpillar on a leaf as shown in the picture. It was about 1 1/2 inches in length. It has strange looking skin wrapping segments around it and it also has interesting eye markings. You can see where it has been nibbling on the leaves and we wonder what kind of caterpillar it is and whether it is a problem species for the trees. Elizabeth Alstrom, LEO

LEO says: We think this caterpillar is the Canadian tiger swallowtail (Papilio canadensis) butterfly. This is one of the largest butterflies in Alaska, but smaller than the Eastern or Western Tiger Swallowtails. It is commonly found in Southcentral Alaska, and a treat to see this caterpillar. M. Tcheripanoff

Video:

Swallowtail butterflies - Papilionidae - Nature at it's finest most beautiful - YouTube Nature is incredible. Check out the 'Swallowtail butterfly' with it's vibrant colors and delicate appearance, yet it's able to fly in gusting winds, swoop like a fighter plane and cover great distance. Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies in the family Papilionidae, and include over 550 species.Though the majority are tropical, members of the family inhabit every continent except Antarctica. The family includes the largest butterflies in the world, the birdwing butterflies..Wiki