Bob Vidler brought in some Orange Dogs to the office this week. If you haven't ever seen one of these unusual caterpillars it might be because they are usually well hidden with their striking "bird dropping" coloring.
These ugly things turn into the beautiful Giant Swallowtail butterfly (Papilio cresphontes). The larvae fest on citrus leaves, and a small tree can be quickly defoliated if you don't pick them off in time. They move very slowly and are easy to remove. A large citrus tree can survive a large number of the larvae.
If you have citrus trees in your yard you might take a close look to see if any of these ugly ducklings are hiding out!
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