The Life of the Caterpillar

A sequence of naturalist essays offers close, patient observations of caterpillars, moths and butterflies, detailing egg-laying, nest-building, feeding, procession behavior, metamorphosis and adult emergence. The author probes behavior and physiology, including sensory powers, stinging and defensive adaptations, and documents ecological interactions such as parasitism and viral infection. Several pieces describe the construction and variation of portable cases by certain larvae and the seasonal and communal responses of different species. Field notes and simple experiments are combined with anecdotal description to reveal species-specific habits while drawing out themes of adaptation, life-cycle timing and the interplay between insects and their environments.