“What the caterpillar calls the end, the rest of the world calls a butterfly.”

Lao Tzu

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Caterpillars /ˈkætərˌpɪlər/ are the larval stagee of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths).

Zebrarups

On ragwort flowers

Corupá - Brazil.

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In my backyard

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This was one of a number feeding on a ceanosis in a neighbour's garden. The adult male of the species is easily recognisable by their rich reddish brown forewings. The females are virtually wingless and are unable to fly and remain close to the papal cocoon. They are found throughout Europe, temperate Asia, Siberia and the USA. As with most hairy caterpillars, the bristles are connected to venomous glands and function as a defensive barrier to would-be predators and cause irritation to the skin. They feed on the foliage of various trees and shrubs.

Broadwater Warren RSPB, Kent.

Normally found in their hundreds munching away on yellow-flowered ragwort, and their bold black-and-gold stripes make them easy to identify.

This year although there were hundreds of Ragwort plants only a few had caterpillars.

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Great camouflage...it looks like one of the limbs of the St John's Wort.

The Spanish moth, Xanthopastis timais (Cramer), is unmistakable for any other moth in Florida. The larvae are likewise very colorful, and have been called convict caterpillars. The larvae are occasional pests of lilies, mainly in Amaryllidaceae.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Chenille de Papilio Machaon (merci à www.flickr.com/photos/patrick_merminod/ pour l'info) d'environ 6 cm.

Lens: EF 100 f/2.8L IS macro (click to see all my photos with this lens)

1/100s f/16.0 100mm ISO 800

Last week, I was having lunch with some friends in a park near a children’s playground. We witnessed a young child running after a Monarch butterfly that was hovering over some small milkweed plants. Immediately, we tried to persuade the child not to catch the butterfly. His grandma quickly came to the rescue and redirected the child away from the butterfly. Then we saw the Monarch land on a few leaves. My friend thought she may have laid some eggs. Sure enough, we saw 4 eggs….. 2 on each plant. My friend and I gently pulled the small plant out by the roots and each took one home. We put it in water and kept them safe in our garages with hopes the eggs would hatch. I am happy to say we now have three very hungry caterpillars in our garage and I feed them fresh milkweed leaves from my garden. My friend also has baby caterpillars. These guys in the image are about 4-5 days old. I am hoping that the grandma in the park is going to read Eric Carle’s well known children’s book to her grandson and explain why it was a good thing he did not catch that butterfly. The book is called “ The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” PS. The Chrysalis in my garden is still hanging but should soon have a Monarch emerging.

Early stage Drinker Moth caterpillar.Fully grown caterpillars are up to 7cm in length. They are dark grey with golden speckling and have brown hair tufts along the body.

Swallowtail

Audierne, Finistère, Brittany, France

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Of Common crow butterfly

Clicked in my garden

My Photoblog- My Third Eye...!

The only creature (that we can catch), so far, that I have had to say no to Evan holding due to the potential rash or irritation it can cause.

I think it's possibly a Brown Tail Caterpillar but please correct me if I'm wrong.

Standhisround and Jeff have probably correctly identified him as a Knot Grass Caterpillar

Danaus gilippus

Found four monarch caterpillars in my milkweed munching away today ;-) Got two in this capture - the second one is in the background!

This is another very small insect. I again don't know what kind of caterpillar it is but judging from the spines it's a stinging variety.