False-colour scanning electron micrograph of caterpillars hatching from the eggs of the large white butterfly, Pieris brassicae, on the undersurface o

---

False-colour scanning electron micrograph of caterpillars hatching from the eggs of the large white butterfly, Pieris brassicae, on the undersurface of a nasturtium leaf. These eggs were laid in late August. The caterpillars (larvae) hatch in a few days & winter as pupae, emerging as butterflies in May. The young caterpillars feed on the cuticle of the leaf until after the first moult, when their diet expands to the whole leaf. They are regarded as pests since their voracious appetite can lead to defoliation of a crop. Magnification. x10 ( size).

---

Size: 4747px × 3648px
Photo credit: © DR JEREMY BURGESS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, brassicae, butterfly, colouring, insect, insecta, invertebrate, invertebrates, jbu, large, nature, pest, pieris, white, wildlife, zoology