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The egg is a green color which closely matches the host plant (Ceanothus) and is laid singly on the upper surface of the leaf. As the egg matures, one side begins changing to a rust color, appearing almost burned. One day before hatching, the tiny larva can be seen through the transparent egg shell.
The egg is a green color which closely matches the host plant (Ceanothus) and is laid singly on the upper surface of the leaf. As the egg matures, one side begins changing to a rust color, appearing almost burned. One day before
The egg is a green color which closely matches the host plant (Ceanothus) and is laid singly on the upper surface of the leaf. As the egg matures, one side begins changing to a rust color, appearing almost burned. One day before
2nd instar lavae still retain their bird dropping coloration, but begin to show some green coloration on the underside. At this point in their lives they still display themselves in plain sight on the end-most leaves of the foodplant branches.
3rd instar lavae start to lose their bird dropping coloration, in favor of a green color which closely matches the foodplant (Ceanothus) foliage color. They are getting too large to sit in the center of the leaves as they did in the previous 2 instars. Now they make a silken pad on the stem of the branch, near where they plan to feed, and return to this spot to "anchor" themselves while at rest. Note the raised "eyespot" knobs on the head.
At the 4th instar phase, most of the darker color is gone and the larvae take on a mostly green color. Only the white saddle portion of the ealier pattern remains. A hidden black and white stripe remains hidden in the folds of the skin until the larvae stretch-out. Additionally, they are equipped with retractable "horns" which can be extended when it feels threatened. The horns produce an oder which smells like citrus or orange peel. While probably supposed to be repulsive to predators, it does not seem at all unpleasant.
5th instar larvae are almost completely green, with prominent black and white eyespots and an orange-ish head. The hidden black and white band is even more conspicuous when the larvae is stretched-out. The photo below reveals it's true shape and coloration. A freshly molted 5th instar larva is shown, with its shed skin]still trailing behind it. The larvae eat their shed skins, which is probably valuable nutritionally. Because the color and pattern changes are so gradual between instars, unless you observe the molt in progress it's difficult to tell where one instar ends and the next begins.
Below are shown several photos of different instars together for comparison. A 2nd and 3rd instar, and then two photos of a 4th and 5th instar.
A Mature 5th instar larva is shown while it is still green. It then changes color over the course of about 2 days to a brown color, signaling its preparation for pupation.
The larva then finds a suitable stem at about about a 45 degree vertical angle, and builds a pad to anchor its rear feet to. With its head up, it spins a multiple-threaded "noose" to suspend itself. It then threads its head through the noose, and reclines into its final position for pupation. Note that the thread doesn't actually penetrate the larval skin, but rather it fits into the natural fold (like an accordian).
See the time lapse video, hosted by YouTube.com:
Finally, pupation takes place, and the pupa rests in its final position. Note that 45 degree (more or less) upward angle is consistently used, probably to simulate a leaf-bud or stem feature to fool predators.
See the time lapse videos, hosted by YouTube.com:
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