The osmaterial glands of the swallowtail butterfly Eurytides marcellus as a defence against natural enemies

ABSTRACT.

• 1 Natural enemies account for almost all mortality of zebra swallowtail caterpillars (Eurytides marcellus [Cramer]) feeding on pawpaw (Asimina spp.) in Florida.
• 2 The osmaterial glands of the third instar caterpillars reduce predation rates in the spring, but not later in the season.
• 3 The seasonal decline in effectiveness of osmateria in deterring natural enemies probably stems from a reduction in the importance of the predators that are repelled by osmateria.