Papilio

…of many swallowtail butterflies (Papilio) are white and brown and resemble bird droppings on leaves, but, as the caterpillars grow, their appearance changes such that their colors eventually serve as camouflage enabling them to blend in with the leaves and stems of plants. In some caterpillars, coloration is conspicuous…

For example, swallowtail butterflies (Papilio) include more than 500 species worldwide. In most species an adult female lays her eggs on a host plant, and, after they hatch, the caterpillars complete their development by feeding parasitically on that plant. In North America there are two groups of these butterflies…