Elementary studies in insect life elementarystudie00hunt Year: 1902 THE CYCLE OF LIFE 17 by the finger. Photographed from life> stems and leaves. This caterpillar no longer requires a milk diet. Its horns, present from birth, are now even more noticeable and their use is more readily discerned. For, when disturbed by any object other than one of its mates, the caterpillar pro- jects its soft, fleshy, orango- yellow horns from behind the head. The position of the horns, their formidable appear- FIG. 18. Caterpillar of black ance, and the act Of protrild- swallowtail protruding horns (os
Elementary studies in insect life elementarystudie00hunt Year: 1902 THE CYCLE OF LIFE 17 by the finger. Photographed from life> stems and leaves. This caterpillar no longer requires a milk diet. Its horns, present from birth, are now even more noticeable and their use is more readily discerned. For, when disturbed by any object other than one of its mates, the caterpillar pro- jects its soft, fleshy, orango- yellow horns from behind the head. The position of the horns, their formidable appear- FIG. 18. Caterpillar of black ance, and the act Of protrild- swallowtail protruding horns (osmateria) upon being touched ing them, all tend to frighten away approaching foes. There still remains, as a last and most effective means of defense, a repulsive odor arising from these horns, sensible ten or twelve feet away. This offensive odor saves many a caterpillar from the destructive beaks of insectivorous birds. Sociability is not one of the characteristics of this immature butterfly. If one caterpillar encroaches upon the other's territory, violent displeasure is manifested by the dashing of the head from side to side. Never at such times are the horns protruded, nor is the offensive odor emitted. Why? At about three weeks of age the larva has grown until it is about as many inches in length, has changed its skin five or six times, has discarded the tubercles and spines so prominent in the young thing just out of the egg. It is ready to become a chrysalis, a pupa, an in- —2
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