What makes an eyespot? Cuticular proteins of course! — by Unknown on

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Close-up of an eyespot on a Papilio xuthus caterpillar [ NOT  the Eye of Sauron ]. Photo from Futahashi et al. (2012) BMC Biology 10:4...

Pink Underwing Moth (Phyllodes imperialis) - Family: Noctuidae — by Unknown on

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Pink Underwing Moth - Phyllodes imperialis ( Noctuidae ) Final instar Phyllodes imperialis caterpillar. Recently this spectacular p...

Papilio canadensis eggs and 1st instar — by Unknown on

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Eggs and Hatchlings! One of the female butterflies that I had sleeved over a branch of Trembling Aspen laid 2 eggs on June 14 2012. Fe...

Caterpillar of the day: Papilio cresphontes — by Unknown on

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The Giant Swallowtail - Papilio cresphontes ( Papilionidae ) Papilio cresphontes caterpillar resting on a lemon leaf. Photo: Wik...

Eyespots and the amazing Macrocilix maia — by Unknown on

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I am continually astonished by anti-predator defences in insects. One day it might be an insect that is so well camouflaged that you strugg...

Continuing on the theme of masquerade... — by Unknown on

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As promised here are some photos of that caterpillar that was peeking out in one of the photos in my last post. This is another Prepona sp ...

Non-caterpillars and coincidental eyespots — by Unknown on

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I set out today looking for caterpillars in the forest here in Santa Rosa (ACG). Finding caterpillars is no easy task, but can be fun and ve...

Caterpillar of the day: Prepona sp. (Prepona demodice?) — by Unknown on

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Today I travelled to Cacao which is one of the more remote (and beautiful) stations here at the ACG. There I saw one of the best snake mimic...

Papilio canadensis pupation & chrysalis — by Unknown on

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Here are some photos showing the pre-pupation and chrysalis of Papilio canadensis. These photos were taken today. The hanging individual be...