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This caterpillar, about the size of a grain of rice, has just emerged from its egg.
The eggs in a cluster all hatch at about the same time.
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This picture gives a perspective of the size of a newly hatched caterpillar.
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Caterpillars are hatching. A twig of a food source was placed in the
container.
The caterpillars will find the leaves and begin to feed immediately.
The container is an old plastic quart container for shebert. I drill small holes
in
the top and sides for ventilation. I usually keep caterpillars in such containers
for the first
2 instars. When all eggs have hatched, I remove the paper strips with
the eggshells on them.
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These first instar caterpillars have begun feeding. They always start on the
outside edges of a leaf. You can see a spot where the caterpillars have eaten into the leaf.
outside edges of a leaf. You can see a spot where the caterpillars have eaten into the leaf.
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The caterpillars on the left appear puffed up and chalky. Soon they will
shed their skins and will look like the caterpillar on the right.
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Second instar. On the bottom of the leaf, you can see where
the caterpillar has fed. Caterpillars rest and digest on the underside of leaves.
the caterpillar has fed. Caterpillars rest and digest on the underside of leaves.
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This caterpillar is about to shed its skin and enter another instar.
It builds a silk pad upon which it secures its hind legs, hangs upside
down in a slightly bent pose, and sheds. It will be inactive for a day or
so and should not be disturbed.
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This caterpillar is emerging from its old skin, which it has outgrown.
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Note that the two most forward pair of tubercles arefire engine red.
In final instar they are orange.
In final instar they are orange.
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This is fifth instar. The caterpillar has just shed its fourth instar
skin.
It can eat an auful lot of leaves! Note that the two most forward pair of
tubercles are orange, which distinguishes fifth instar from third or fourth.
It can eat an auful lot of leaves! Note that the two most forward pair of
tubercles are orange, which distinguishes fifth instar from third or fourth.
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Caterpillars in fifth instar can be five inches long and as thick as a thumb.
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This caterpillar has just begun to spin its cocoon.
It has drawn leaves towards itself with its silk.
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You can still see the caterpillar inside the cocoon it is forming.
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