Some more images from my Insect Portraits project, this time focusing on 2 images featuring the same species; the Caterpillar (larva) and the Moth (adult).
Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) caterpillar
This is a Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) and it is interesting to note that the caterpillar is brightly coloured to show that it is potentially toxic to predators to avoid being eaten.
This is contrasted by the adults dull plain colouring which is used more as camouflage to avoid being eaten. Two very different approaches to avoid being lunch, exhibited by the same species...
Pale Tussock (Calliteara pudibunda) Adult Moth