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Caterpillar Lime Butterfly
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| Photo Information |
Copyright: Sindhu Ramchandran (Sindhur)
![Silver Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 15 W: 0 N: 53]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/s-n-g.gif) (399) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2006-02-25 |
| Categories: Insects |
| Exposure: f/3.5, 1/100 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2007-01-21 5:23 |
| Viewed: 655 |
| Points: 2 |
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| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
| Butterflies and moths go through a life cycle known as complete metamorphosis. The stages of their life cycle include: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. When a butterfly or moth larva (also known as a caterpillar) first hatches from its egg, it is very small! This young caterpillar is referred to as a FIRST INSTAR caterpillar. A caterpillar has only one job: to eat! Many species of caterpillars begin their feast by eating their egg shell, which contains plenty of nutrients. Other species of caterpillars immediately begin eating the tender, small parts of leaves.Caterpillars (and all insects) face a challenge as they grow! Unfortunately, their skin cannot grow with them! In order for a caterpillar to grow larger than the skin it had when it hatched, it must make a new, larger skin! The caterpillar does this by first growing a new skin underneath the outer skin. Then, when it is ready, it "sheds" the old skin, and the newer, larger skin underneath is exposed. This process is properly called MOLTING. After the caterpillar has molted for the first time, it is referred to as a SECOND INSTAR, and it has some room to grow. The second instar caterpillar continues to eat and grow, until it is once again too big for the skin it is in. This caterpillar MOLTS again, and the result is a THIRD INSTAR caterpillar. An of course it continues to the fourth, before the pupal stage. This photograph is caterpillar of Common Lime butterfly in different states of molting |
anel, Maite has marked this note useful
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| Discussions |
| Thread | Thread Starter |
Messages |
Updated |
| To Maite: Thanks | Sindhur |
1 |
01-23 12:09 |
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- Maite
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1005 W: 64 N: 1242]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(5082) - [2007-01-23 11:29]
- [+]
An interesting document, my friend, and very good shot.
Thank you very much for sharing.
Best wishes
Maite
