What’s The Deal With Caterpillars?

Metamorphosis? Sounds like witchcraft to me.

1. First make sure you know what a caterpillar is:

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   2. Via: terriblycute.com
   3. Source: toostinkincute.blogspot.com
   4. Source: uvm.edu
   5. Source: poppyscornershop.com
   6. Source: outhouserag.typepad.com

2. Just checking. Caterpillars can be confusing creatures.

They are actually the larval stage of a butterfly or moth, having a segmented wormlike body with three pairs of true legs and several pairs of leglike appendages.

Source: sneakhype.com

3. Their journey begins as a tiny egg.

Source: lifecycle.onenessbecomesus.com

4. From the second they enter the world, all they care about is food.

First they eat the egg, then they eat the leaf.

Source: museumvictoria.com.au

5. When they finish that first leaf, they go find another.

And another, and another, and another.

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6. A caterpillar’s life is pretty much consumed by eating.

During this stage, the caterpillar can grow in size more than 30,000 times.

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7. They eat so much they end up shedding their skin 4-5 times in under two weeks.

And they look great don’t they?

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8. You could say they are pretty fashion oriented.

Source: en.wikipedia.org

9. They come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors.

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10. Once they grow enough and eat to their hearts content…

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11. They find the perfect spot to morph into a chrysalis.

Witchcraft!

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12. To enter this stage they must create an anchor of silk.

Caterpillars also have spinnerets, or silk-producing organs, in their heads.

Source: lifecycle.onenessbecomesus.com

13. From which they bravely hang. Fearless!

Source: lifecycle.onenessbecomesus.com

14. The magic can then commence.

The chrysalis starts out soft and skin-like, but gradually hardens to form a protective shell. Most species of butterflies and moths spend the entire winter in this pupal state.

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15. You can guess what happens next…

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16. Chilling in the chrysalis is boring, so it’s time to bust out as a butterfly.

Source: lifecycle.onenessbecomesus.com

The butterfly will only live for a few days, lay her eggs, and die.

Source: quickmeme.com

18. Some of the transformations are remarkable:

The Hickory-Horned Devil becomes a Red Walnut Moth

Source: nl.wikipedia.org

Cecropia caterpillar and adult Cecropia Moth

Source: lifecycle.onenessbecomesus.com

Pale Tussock caterpillar and adult Pale Tussock Moth.

Source: tonymorris

Peacock caterpillar and adult Peacock butterfly.

Source: roj

22. The rare Puggerfly.

Just gorgeous.

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A rare doggerpillar.

Source: coolgraphic.org

The elusive cat-a-piller.

Source: funnycatsite.com

25. Caterpillars are so magical, everyone wants to be one.

Source: icanhas.cheezburger.com