4 - 100 - 6

4 Mrs Brimstone laid about 100 eggs on my tiny Alder Buckthorn. I was concerned that I would have to relocate most of them. Sadly only 6 caterpillars remain and have been brought inside.
This is one of 3 5th instar larvae about to unergo the transformation into a pupa then butterfly.
They have already stopped feeding, their legs and bodies are beginning to thicken & shorten.
They will find a suitable (or not!) place to prepare a silken pad to which they will attach the cremaster at the base of their tails. Then they will spin a girdle to support their bodies.
Once secure, the last larval skin is shed and the soft pupa will be revealed.
Enzymes and imaginal discs are now hard at work absorbing all that is not needed and building a new and totally different body.
No jaws, but a proboscis.
Legs but finer than a caterpillar's with sensory cells for taste and smell.
Wings.
Compound instead of simple eyes.
After about 2 weeks, the hardened pupal case will become transparent and I shall prepare to watch and film the eclosion (birth) of the butterfly - and probably miss it!
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[Anne Pancella]

Gorgeous. For a second, I didn't even see it.

[Milanie]

Love your step by step description of what will take place. Wonderful close-up

[Shepherdman's Wife]

I look forward to seeing the beautiful butterfly it will become

[Merrelyn]

Great close up and description of what will happen. I hope that you get to witness the eclosion.

[Charmaine Zoe]

Fascinating, must be thrilling to be able to watch the complete metamorphosis of a butterfly from egg to caterpillar to pupa and then see the beautiful butterfly emerge and gradually pump blood into its' wings to stretch them and then see it fly for the first time!

[Julienne Jones]

Its a stressful time being an adoptive brimstone mum!

[Jesika]

@annepann @milaniet @shepherdmanswife @merrelyn @julienne1 thank you all. 100 eggs became 6 larvae, lost one them relocated it. 2 have pupated and one is in position to pupate overnight. The others are 3rd or 4th instar so still feeding and growing. It’s interesting that they have the same number of cells throughout their larval life.
To prove insanity I went out yesterday and rescued 10 5th in stars, one of which is in position to pupate, and 4 younger ones. Hopefully I have increased my chances of viewing eclosion.