"Instar" refers to the developmental stage of an arthropod between its various moults.Īfterward, butterfly caterpillars molt one final time into a hard chrysalis to begin their magical makeover, and moth caterpillars (with a few exceptions) wrap themselves in a silky cocoon. They grow so much during their brief lives that they typically shed their skin several times, often revamping their appearance from one instar phase to the next. What caterpillars all have in common is the incredible metamorphosis they undergo on their journey from egg to butterfly or moth.Ĭaterpillars represent just one stage of this transformational trek-the larval stage-during which their main purpose is to eat and grow. But the caterpillars they start from-with a variety of colors, shapes, markings, and armor-can be equally captivating. It's hard not to be captivated by the fluttery, fragile beauty of butterflies and moths.
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