Larva (caterpillar) of the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly Aglais urticae,attaching itself to a stinging nettle leaf,Urtica dioica at the start of pupation. During the larval stage they live socially,spinning a silken tent around a group,from behind which they feed on the host plant (nettle). They are fully grown by four weeks & measure approximately 20mm long. At pupation they move off the food plant (not here perhaps because a captive specimen) & suspend themselves from posts,walls,sheds & tree trunks. Despite this uncharacteristic pupal home,the caterpillar attaches itself using silk & hangs down from the substrate. Magnification: X1.1 (at 35mm size) | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Burgess, Dr. Jeremy |
Bildgröße: | 3498 px × 5197 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |