Anthocharis cardamines - Caterpillar, few days old

Very young caterpillar, maybe one or two days old, passing it's empty egg shell on the way down the plant ...

comments (5)

Ernst

Lion

Very nice and as sharp as a razor. Posted one year ago
1. Pudding4brains
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks Ernst, fortunately it was holding still just long enough to allow me to focus in peace ;o) Posted one year ago

Christine Young

Lion

Fantastic series, Arp! I'm surprised it didn't eat all of its eggshell. Posted one year ago
1. Pudding4brains
  
  Lion
  
  It does seem to be the factory standard operating procedure (more or less). I have more empty eggs in my archive but they're mostly similar to these.
  
  Posted one year ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Interesting. I have sadly never watched a caterpillar hatch, but I always assumed they would eat all of the eggshell for the nutrition. Perhaps they are not that hungry and it's not in their nature to gorge, unlike some other creatures. Most of the insects that I've seen hatch weren't the kind to eat their eggs. Posted one year ago