Metamorphosis Orange-tip (anthocharis cardamines)
Butterflies are insects who transform completely. From egg into caterpillar, from caterpillar into pupae and after this final stage the butterfly will emerge. The transformation between two stages is called metamorphosis.
The orange-tip is a common butterfly who is flying in a single brood between April and June. The male is unmistakable as his wings has a big orange spot. The caterpillar foodplants are Cuckooflower, Garlic and Hedge Mustard and Garden Honesty.
For photos of the other stages please link to my 'regular' page about the Orange-tip (Butterfly Gallery -> Pieridae).
The orange-tip is a common butterfly who is flying in a single brood between April and June. The male is unmistakable as his wings has a big orange spot. The caterpillar foodplants are Cuckooflower, Garlic and Hedge Mustard and Garden Honesty.
For photos of the other stages please link to my 'regular' page about the Orange-tip (Butterfly Gallery -> Pieridae).
Sequence 1: Transformation from caterpillar into chrysalis (metamorphosis)
Sequence 2: Transformation from caterpillar into chrysalis (metamorphosis)
Here I was too late, within seconds the caterpillar skin was taken off and on photo 3 of 8 you can see that the skin has been kicked away like a football (the fresh chrysalis is moving constantly).
Sequence 3: Transformation from chrysalis into butterfly (metamorphosis)
Sequence 4: Transformation from chrysalis into butterfly (metamorphosis)
Sequence 5: Transformation from chrysalis into butterfly (metamorphosis)
Sequence 6: Transformation from chrysalis into butterfly (metamorphosis)