Caterpillar………………

……………..…....…Moult


#1 of 2 blips uploaded today

I have yet to witness the complete moulting stage of a monarch butterfly caterpillar, but today I was fortunate to see more of this stage than on previous occasions.  

The main blip shows the caterpillar with its rear prolegs high as it releases them from the old skin. The antennae are still soft and folded close to its body

The extra photo shows the old head capsule as tiny and black while the new head is yellow. As the new head dries, it will become black. The antennae are now rigid and ‘ready for action’

- The caterpillar spins a thin mat of silk into which it digs its rear prolegs so that the skin will remain attached to the surface as the caterpillar wriggles free.
- The old head covering remains attached after moulting. The caterpillar will move its head against  the surface or use its legs to loosen it until it falls away.
- Time is needed for the new skin to dry and the larger mouth parts to harden before the caterpillar turns around and eats its old skin.

Thank you for the comments, stars and hearts for yesterday’s insect - which I am hoping is NZ’s native red damselfly.