After only 19 days, the pre-pupal caterpillar shrugged off its final larval skin. I missed the beginning (of course) but you can see the skin at the base of the tail. By rhythmic contractions of the abdominal muscles & twisting and wriggling, the skin is removed from head to tail.
Normally, a Brimstone caterpillar undergoes 4 moults about a week apart, the 5th and final, larva to pupa at 4 weeks.
This caterpillar was raised inside and we now wonder if, as with some plants in sub-optimal conditions, it was the subject of accelerated growth. If so, this may be the reason why only 4 from 30 have survived. I'm uncertain about this as I've raised many caterpillars from egg to imago without such loss.
To appease my conscience, I know that unprotected outside, only 1 or 2 per hundred survive...
10 of the remaining 4th instar larvae have now been brought inside.
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Doggie mummy living in ancient York, Yorkshire, England.
Joined 1st Jan 2018
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I take photos, am not a photographer.
Interested...
@koalagardens@milaniet@susie1205 Thank you all very much. I hold my breath when they shed their final skin, it looks so very painful (although I know they don't feel pain in the same way we do) and takes a tremendous amount of energy. I also fear they will lose their anchorage even though none ever have.
j
@joev@bigmxx Thank you, Michelle, Joe. Pictures bring a story to life, don't they? I could easily describe what's happened since early May, but I think everyone would have gone to sleep long ago.
j
June 11th, 2018
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