Second of 5 false-colour scanning electron micro- graphs of caterpillars hatching from the eggs of the large white butterfly, Pieris brassicae. This m

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Second of 5 false-colour scanning electron micro- graphs of caterpillars hatching from the eggs of the large white butterfly, Pieris brassicae. This micrograph shows the head of the caterpillar breaking through the shell. The eggs are laid in large groups, usually on the undersurface of leaves of crops such as cabbages, broccoli & swedes. These caterpillars (larvae) hatched in early September. They winter as pupae, emerging in May as adult butterflies. The young caterpill- ars feed on the cuticle of the leaf until after the first moult, when their diet expands to the whole leaf. Their voracious appetite can defoliate whole crops. Magnification: x75 at size.

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Size: 4606px × 3949px
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