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A caterpillar of the lemon butterfly is in the 5th or final instar eating leaves to prepare itself to before pupal stage in a forest at Tehatta, West Bengal, India on July 5, 2023. The lime butterfly or lemon butterfly or lime swallowtail or chequered swallowtail (Papilio demoleus) is a common and widespread swallowtail butterfly. These common names refer to their host plants, which are usually citrus species such as cultivated lime. Unlike most swallowtail butterflies, it does not have a prominent tail. When the adult stage is taken into consideration, the lime swallowtail is the shortest-lived butterfly, with male adults dying after four days and females after a week. The butterfly is native to Asia and Australia and can be considered an invasive pest in other parts of the world. The Lime Butterfly caterpillars in all instars possess a fleshy organ called osmeterium in the prothoracic segment. Usually hidden, the osmeterium can be everted to emit a foul-smelling secretion when the caterpillar is threatened. (Photo by Soumyabrata Roy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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