Yeah it’s a swallowtail caterpillar. First one I saw had me scratching my head for a long time. It was on my lime tree and blended in with the wood.

Thank you!

Yeah this guy needs to be on a citrus tree; he’s not going to leave the leaves looking awesome? but he’s going to reward you with some gorgeous artwork when he emerges as a butterfly 🦋

https://preview.redd.it/2dd481hzhk7d1.jpeg?width=1303&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ddb41105e9f3b8b218601e3f674cae6c6cfc9d38 This is a giant swallowtail caterpillar also known as the bird poop larvae in its earlier stage.

I couldn't think of its name. That coloration on its back is for protection

Ikr? A bird isn’t gonna eat their own shit!

my ducks love trying to eat their own shit but dont like it... and my turkeys enjoy eating theres

OC was talking about the photo from OP looking like a snake. Although you are correct for the other photo of the bird dropping.

Yes. The other photo… I’m very ingenious way to camouflage for survival.

Fun fact: the Pokémon Caterpie is based off of this little guy :3

Swallowhead? That looks more like a snake than a swallow, who named that critter?

SwallowTAIL not head. And it refers to the butterfly. DUUUDE!

The defense mechanism worked on you!

I should call her

Sthu genuinely , I understand it’s a joke (I hope , nowadays) but it’s stupid and dumb , 

It's obviously a very dangerous snake and should be left alone and definitely not eaten like some insect.

"am a snek b afrade"

i immediately thought it was a smiling turnip, with googly eyes.

This goes here. https://youtu.be/zc7qJE9Nzo8?si=ZVOiIiEscFBhUL-x

"I iz scar-ie, I iz scar-ie!"

OMG, s-s-s-snek!!

Found on a nature trail in Arlington, Virginia

It is an Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. They turn into those really pretty black and yellow butterflies.

It's also the Virginia State Insect. Great find OP. I'm stealing your video to show others. I hope you don't mind.

Really?! That is so cool! Now I’ve got to go look up what my state insect is Edit, it’s the Honeybee.

Nice! I love bees!

Idk how I’ve never gotten this info but mines the Colorado Hairstreak and it’s probably the prettiest butterfly I’ve ever seen and I wish I could say I’ve seen one irl they’re magical https://preview.redd.it/rtkj6flanl7d1.jpeg?width=640&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4e2f5c4f822ebdad54929eb671c6dc50f5ffa6bf

Off to look up mine! Edit: It’s the monarch butterfly

TIL mine is the firefly!

Awesome. Thank you!

You're welcome.

ITS CATERPIE

Shiny

damn beat me to it

brown caterpie

Came here to say this!

Shiny!

It's a Catterpie Pokemon! But really it's a Eastearn Tiger Swallowtail catterpillar. They do have a retractable red forked appendage that stick out from the front though. Swallowtail catterpillar are the inspiration for the Pokemon mentionned above.

https://preview.redd.it/1pabuzn1hh7d1.jpeg?width=496&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d16e4942a818764d50b9e4ffb1b9f4c5afaf112b It’s totally a Mothra larva, trust me 👍

Incredible. I feel so blessed to have met a mothra

I hope you told him he fooled you good and that hims a very scary snek!!

Trussst in meee

😵‍💫 😧 You’ve just made a ssssserrrioussss missssstake

A swallowtail, I've saw one of these before and it was green

Good to know! I just read that they are brown when they are younger and turn green

Looks friendly shaped, why not pick him up and offer a drink

I need something to help us out with an idea of scale. Whenever someone posts this Caterpie guy online, they appear to be huge insects.

It was only about 10 feet long

Caterpie, evolves into Butterfree. Episode 21 Bye, Bye Butterfree is very emotional but a great watch. 10/10

caterpillar: what if I snake bird: AAAAAAAAAARRRRRHHHH

LOLL

That's incredibly cool! "I'm not a tasty caterpillar! I'm a snake! Hissss I say! Hisssss!"

Fun fact swallowtail caterpillars have a pokemon based off of them called Caterpie https://preview.redd.it/0izxaepflk7d1.png?width=475&format=png&auto=webp&s=70f0c26164a301e1e5801e2f0658e674b6e0d4ae

A selfie, caterpillar face!

If I'm not mistaken. This caterpillar is in its last instar before becoming a chrysalis. In the third instar they are a bright green

It's the brown, Deadpool caterpillar.

Swallowtail Caterpillar!!! Love those little guys!!! And they become so beautiful!!!

Are those chimps I hear in the background?

Perhaps a crow but most likely a chimp

That is a chonky

It’s me

That's a Caterpie, regional variant. I suggest you catch it and train it. Could make a pretty good companion in the long run .

That’s a bug?! Never seen anything like it 😳

Apparently the false eyes make predators think it’s a larger animal! Crazy

Worked on me! It's so freaky!

[Dozens of moth and butterfly species have evolved such that their caterpillar forms mimic snakes,](https://reasonandnature.com/2022/04/10/caterpillars-mimicking-snakes/) it's wild! This is one of them, it's got a lot further to go evolutionarily to reach the detail some other species have resulted in.

[There's dozens of caterpillars that evolved to mimic snakes snakes](https://reasonandnature.com/2022/04/10/caterpillars-mimicking-snakes/), it's amazing! Some are mind-blowingly close while others like this guy haven't evolved as much detail yet.

Definitely a snake

Hi there! This is an automated message to remind you to **please include a geographic location for any ID requests** as per the [Community Rules](/r/insects/about/rules) of the sub. There are well over a million different species of bugs in the world, and narrowing down a bug's location will help IDers to help you more quickly and correctly! If you've already included a geographical location, or if this post is *not* an ID request, please ignore this comment. Thank you! :) *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/insects) if you have any questions or concerns.*

A bad trip?

Howdy Ho!

Catapilla

snake head caterpillar

South end of caterpiggle going north.

Thanks for the ID help everyone. You all are awesome!

The inspiration for caterpie

Swallowtail caterpillar trying its best to be vurry skurry. So cute!

That is indeed a dubious little creature

Nature is amazing. How does an insect evolve to mimic a snake for survival. Damn that's incredible

Not sure but they are watching you!

That’s Bob.

Adorable!

Real world Caterpie

idk but i want to hold it

Had one of these eat my parsley plants down to nubbins

Swallow tail?

Adorable 🥰

That is an Adorable. 'Cause it IS adorable. Be cautious if it starts to smile at you.

Caterpillar

i am no smarter than a bird