5 Baby Brimstone

After 22 days, twice the usual incubation period, the Brimstone butterfly eggs finally hatched. This is one of the larvae carefully hidden in plain view along the vein of Alder Buckthorn, the food plant.
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Canon reversed lens

[KoalaGardens🐨]

good shot :)

[Jesika]

@koalagardens Thank you, it's about 1/4 inch long at this stage...
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[Paul]

Great find and capture. Nature is so amazing.

[Jesika]

@pej I saw Mrs B briefly visit & lay a few eggs. I found 12 but only 6 larvae, 5 are inside for safety and so I can record their progress. The larvae will pupate after about 4 weeks, and then 2 weeks later, if I'm lucky, I'll see & video the eclosion. I find insect metamorphosis fascinating and mesmerising, spending hours watching and photographing.
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[Inga Johansson]

This is very well composed and very simple. I hate caterpillars and worms so a fav from me is a real treat :)

[Jesika]

@ingajohansson Thank you, Inga. We need worms to aerate soil and without caterpillars we'd have no butterflies...
The composition is entirely up to the caterpillar, this is how this species spends its 7-10 days, hidden along the central vein of the leaf. I thank you for your comment and favourite
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