#? actually it should be insectblr but

[fungus-gnats]

Last year, I fostered a caterpillar! The lime butterfly :D

Some fun facts about this species, edited from this source (can also be used for more detailed image descriptions!) Body camouflage: The caterpillars of the lime butterfly resemble 2 things: bird droppings (1st – 2nd instar) and green leaves like its host plant (3rd - 5th instar). This will trick potential predators into ignoring them as inanimate objects!

False eyespot: Eyespots can be found on both the adult butterfly and as well as on the caterpillar in its 5th instar. It can serve as a form of mimicry - looking like the the eyes of another animal, tricking potential predators.

Cool defense: Osmeterium is a defensive gland that produces a pungent smell to ward off predators. When threatened, it will protrude its osmeterium from between the head and prothorax for a short period of time. It is bright orange and makes the caterpillar look like it has angry eyebrows >:)

Bonus, blurry photo of it molting (i have a video but it is 4 mins long and equally blurry, so i'll leave it out)

Unfortunately, it didn't grow into a very successful butterfly and couldn't fly far, because its wings didn't dry completely :(

(Putting a cut for the other pics because it's kinda sad)

i'm sorry little one, i failed you :( In the future, I would definitely:

Include a stick/more stable object in the box, for the caterpillar to grow its chrysalis

Ensure that the base of the container is dry, by putting some paper and organic material

Use netting instead of keeping the container closed

As for what I did, I fed it with sugar water for about a week and left it among some flowers,, and when I went away for a bit before coming back, it disappeared. I assume it was eaten by a bird :(

but that is how the animal kingdom works! although I'll definitely do better, if I ever have to foster another caterpillar,, I'M SORRY AGAIN to the butterfly for making your lifespan shorter :(