Papilio anactus 1st instar

Most eggs seemed to hatch exactly four days after I saw them laid. The caterpillars are minute - about 0.3mm. This image is a bit fuzzy. It was windy and I don't have an appropriate camera for this type of photography.

Apparently, some swallowtails mimic toxic or nasty tasting butterflies to avoid predation. The Dainty Swallowtail is one of these but due to to it's increased flight range to incorporate citrus orchards in the southern states, it's somehow lost it's ability to mimic.

I think many caterpillars have disappeared but a few remain and I will be checking their progress regularly.