CATERPILLAR

COMMON MORMON - CATERPILLAR

     Butterflies and moths spend their childhood as caterpillars, called the larval stage. Caterpillars eat constantly. They outgrow their skin and shed it several times. After the last shedding, the caterpillar fastens to a branch and enters the pupa or chrysalis stage; moth caterpillars use a silk thread from their silk glands to spin a protective cocoon. Inside the cocoon, the pupa goes through a process called metamorphosis. The caterpillar's six front legs transform into the adult insect's legs, the other “prolegs” disappear, wings grow, and the insect emerges as a beautiful moth or butterfly.

     Its always been great to have a closer look at such amazing creatures. They are around us but hardly noticed. Presenting you some images and interesting facts of a caterpillar which i found on the Lemon plant in my house.

This one is called the Common Mormon. I found it on the leaves of a Lemon plant which is kept in my house corridor. I have seen tiny hairy caterpillars but this is the first time I saw one as beautiful as this. With its green and white-striped color, it camouflaged itself extremely well on one of my lemon plants.

Here is another pic of The Commo Mormon.. Excited, I went close to it and touched the body with my fingers. Suddenly, the Y-shaped tongue came out (see the pic). The stronger I touched, the more bent the body and the longer the tongue. Intrigued, I ran back inside to take my camera to take a couple of shots. If you look closely, it has eyes too... Well fake eyes that is. Mainly to scare predators away. That's nature at its best..

Here is a closeup pic of the Common Mormon.. The Y - shaped tongue looks so prominent here. But i am still doubtful if its a tongue or its antinnae!! As the mouth is found just below the red thing...!! Anyone can find out what exactly this one is.....!! And the fake eyes look so well developed here... Really couldnt find its actual eyes though....!!

Look at the way it holds on so tightly to the stem..

The Common Mormon should be around 2.5 inch to 3 inch long. And held itself very tightly to the Lemon leaf. If you closely observe, the body looks so well attached to the stem here. Even heavy winds and rain cant detach it... I had to pull this one out just because it was chewing the lemon leaves... It was really difficult to remove....

Common Mormon with its mouth opening to release its red tongue like thing out......!!