as small as a world and as large as alone

3:12am October 11, 2013

malformalady:

Plenty of caterpillars use camouflage to protect them against predators until they pupate, but the Camouflaged Looper(Synchlora aerata). remains unique. While other caterpillars are naturally camouflaged to match the types of plants their parents laid their eggs on or change their colors based on diet or location, the looper makes its own disguise. It will actually pluck petals from the flower of the plant it’s munching on, then affix those petals to its back with silk. As the petals start to wilt and discolor, the caterpillar will replace them with new petals. After their pupal stage, the caterpillar emerges as a gorgeous Wavy-lined Emerald Moth.

Photo credit: (top)Hope Abrams and (bottom)Jim McCormac

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