Before the wings

Wallpaper Description:

The caterpillar or larval stage is the second of the butterfly stages. The caterpillar does not need to remain in the egg for long because he is teensy at birth. He grows to be 27,000 times his birth size by the time he is ready to enter the next stage of life. Caterpillars eat constantly, usually the leaves of their favorite plant. As the caterpillar grows he sheds his skin, also known as molting. He will do this between 4-6 times before he considers himself to be full grown. Each period of molting is known as an “instar.” At this stage the caterpillar is a pretty simple life form. They have twelve feet. They also have eyes but cannot yet see anything except darkness and light.

A full size caterpillar will then enter the third of his butterfly stages, which is known as the pupal or chrysalis stage. The caterpillar attaches himself to a leaf or a branch or even just lies down and covers himself with leaves. In approximately twenty-four hours the caterpillar will have a pupal skin under his caterpillar skin. At this point he sheds his caterpillar skin for the last time.