Swallowtail cats

The swallowtail cats are turning out to be just as pretty as the monarchs were.

 Later instars look completely different from early instars (like the one at the top).

 The process of molting appears to be much the same as the monarchs'.

 The osmeterium is the really interesting (and fairly unique) feature of swallowtail cats. When disturbed (I stroked this one with a leaf), the cat rears back its head and pushes out the osmeterium - a weird and horrible-smelling orange organ shaped like a Y - and tries to wipe it on the offender. Apparently they use this to try to defend themselves against predators. For a bit more info see this site, and for a lot more info, read this article.

 

 After first shedding their head capsule, the cats' heads are very pale. They vehemently dislike being disturbed before their exoskeleton has the chance to harden again.