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robcorreia San Diego, CA(Zone 10b) Sep 24, 2009

I have lots of butterflies in my garden, but 've never seen this creature before...can anybody please id? It's eating my lemon tree flowers!

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Ray_Der_Phan Oceanside, CA(Zone 10a) Sep 24, 2009

I call them "Bird Poop Caterpillars" lol

Been finding them on my newly planted Lemon tree as well. They are called Orange Dog Caterpillars.

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robcorreia San Diego, CA(Zone 10b) Sep 24, 2009

Thanks! So should I leave it there, how "voracious" is it?

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Ray_Der_Phan Oceanside, CA(Zone 10a) Sep 24, 2009

I don't know how voracious they are.....still kinda learning about them myself. This is the first year I've seen them. Not sure if they are new arrivals or that I just never payed much attention to notice them before. They sure are odd looking. I have found 3 total and within 2 days they were gone. Here's a little more info....

http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2009/05/03/orange-dog-11/

Quoting:
This is the caterpillar of a beautiful butterfly, the Giant Swallowtail. The caterpillar is commonly called an Orange Dog and it mimics bird droppings to avoid getting eaten. The caterpillar will eat some leaves, but will do no lasting harm to your tree. You should not spray your tree because of the Orange Dog. The Orange Dog is not harmful to humans, but if you provoke it, you will be treated to seeing the osmetrium emerge. The osmetrium is a scent organ resembling two orange horns and it gives off an odor to repel its attacker.


http://www.killerplants.com/renfields-garden/20030212.asp

Quoting:
....Hidden behind the head is a Y-shaped structure, the osmeterium, which exserts from the body to slap at predators like ants and spiders. The osmeterium exudes a foul smelling liquid containing forty percent isobutyric acid and sixty percent 2-methyl butyric acid. The mixture smells like rancid butter and is fatal to many insects.....



http://ag.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/mg/entomology/citrus.html

Quoting:
Orange dog caterpillars feed on citrus. They are mottled dark grey to light brown, and are said to look like "bird droppings." If disturbed, two orange, horn-like projections emerge from the head and the caterpillar produces a pungent lemony odor. When mature the caterpillar is about 1 1/2 inch long. The adult is beautiful black and yellow butterfly called the giant swallowtail.

Orange dogs are potentially harmful to young trees only, older trees can easily withstand the loss of a few leaves. Orange dogs can be controlled on small trees by finding and crushing eggs and caterpillars. Most are controlled naturally by parasites and other natural enemies.


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robcorreia San Diego, CA(Zone 10b) Sep 24, 2009

Oh how cute. I'll just leave it there to see the beautiful butterfly. Thanks again! : )

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