This tiger swallowtail caterpillar, which becomes a tiger swallowtail butterfly, was at the Pine Cone Campground in Penobsquis. – Roger Lewis, Saint John This is indeed the common and widespread tiger swallowtail caterpillar. In our region this caterpillar feeds on ash, cherry and other hardwoods. The early stages of this caterpillar (referred to as instars) resemble bird droppings; the species does not acquire its green colour until fairly mature. For anyone with an interest in caterpillars an excellent field guide is the recent (2005) Princeton University Press Guide to Caterpillars of Eastern North America by David L. Wagner. The photos in this book show a wide range of gorgeous larval insects that occur in this region. – Don McAlpine