Regal Moth

This 2008 image depicts a ventral view, i.e., from below, of a Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis pupa. Found buried in the rural Georgia dirt, this pupa represents the next phase of development of this moth, which follows the caterpillar known as the hickory horned devil. See PHIL 10766, 10767, 10768, 10769, and 10770 for images depicting this caterpillar in all its majestic splendor. Like butterflies, moths are holometabolous organisms, which means that they undergo a complete metamorphosis as they pass through their four developmental stages: embryo, larva, i.e., caterpillar, pupa, which is the case here, and imago, or adult. See PHIL 10821 and 10824, for a closer look at the cephalic, or head end of this pupa.Created: 2008

This 2008 image depicts a ventral view, i.e., from below, of a Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis pupa. Found buried in the rural Georgia dirt, this pupa represents the next phase of development of this moth, which follows the caterpillar known as the hickory horned devil. See PHIL 10766, 10767, 10768, 10769, and 10770 for images depicting this caterpillar in all its majestic splendor. Like butterflies, moths are holometabolous organisms, which means that they undergo a complete metamorphosis as they pass through their four developmental stages: embryo, larva, i.e., caterpillar, pupa, which is the case here, and imago, or adult. See PHIL 10821 and 10824, for a closer look at the cephalic, or head end of this pupa.Created: 2008

This 2008 image depicts a ventral view, i.e., from below, of a Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis pupa. Found buried in the rural Georgia dirt, this pupa represents the next phase of development of this moth, which follows the caterpillar known as the hickory horned devil. See PHIL 10766, 10767, 10768, 10769, and 10770 for images depicting this caterpillar in all its majestic splendor. Like butterflies, moths are holometabolous organisms, which means that they undergo a complete metamorphosis as they pass through their four developmental stages: embryo, larva, i.e., caterpillar, pupa, which is the case here, and imago, or adult. See PHIL 10822, 10825, and 10826 for a closer look at the caudal, or tail end of this pupa.Created: 2008

This 2008 image depicts a ventral view, i.e., from below, of a Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis pupa. Found buried in the rural Georgia dirt, this pupa represents the next phase of development of this moth, which follows the caterpillar known as the hickory horned devil. See PHIL 10766, 10767, 10768, 10769, and 10770 for images depicting this caterpillar in all its majestic splendor. Like butterflies, moths are holometabolous organisms, which means that they undergo a complete metamorphosis as they pass through their four developmental stages: embryo, larva, i.e., caterpillar, pupa, which is the case here, and imago, or adult. See PHIL 10821 and 10824, for a closer look at the cephalic, or head end of this pupa, and PHIL 10822, 10825, and 10826 for a closer look at the caudal, or tail end.Created: 2008

This 2008 image depicts a ventral view, i.e., from below, of a Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis pupa. Found buried in the rural Georgia dirt, this pupa represents the next phase of development of this moth, which follows the caterpillar known as the hickory horned devil. See PHIL 10766, 10767, 10768, 10769, and 10770 for images depicting this caterpillar in all its majestic splendor. Like butterflies, moths are holometabolous organisms, which means that they undergo a complete metamorphosis as they pass through their four developmental stages: embryo, larva, i.e., caterpillar, pupa, which is the case here, and imago, or adult. See PHIL 10821 and 10824, for a closer look at the cephalic, or head end of this pupa.Created: 2008

This 2008 image depicts a ventral view, i.e., from below, of a Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis pupa. Found buried in the rural Georgia dirt, this pupa represents the next phase of development of this moth, which follows the caterpillar known as the hickory horned devil. See PHIL 10766, 10767, 10768, 10769, and 10770 for images depicting this caterpillar in all its majestic splendor. Like butterflies, moths are holometabolous organisms, which means that they undergo a complete metamorphosis as they pass through their four developmental stages: embryo, larva, i.e., caterpillar, pupa, which is the case here, and imago, or adult. See PHIL 10822, 10825, and 10826 for a closer look at the caudal, or tail end of this pupa.Created: 2008

This 2008 image depicts a ventral view, i.e., from below, of a Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis pupa. Found buried in the rural Georgia dirt, this pupa represents the next phase of development of this moth, which follows the caterpillar known as the hickory horned devil. See PHIL 10766, 10767, 10768, 10769, and 10770 for images depicting this caterpillar in all its majestic splendor. Like butterflies, moths are holometabolous organisms, which means that they undergo a complete metamorphosis as they pass through their four developmental stages: embryo, larva, i.e., caterpillar, pupa, which is the case here, and imago, or adult. See PHIL 10821 and 10824, for a closer look at the cephalic, or head end of this pupa, and PHIL 10822, 10825, and 10826 for a closer look at the caudal, or tail end.Created: 2008

This 2008 image depicts a left lateral view of a Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar as it was wriggling across a Georgia red clay surface. It’s hard to imagine, but keep in mind that this caterpillar is actually a developmental stage, or instar, through which the creature passes before becoming an adult, or imago Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis. Just prior to entering its pupal stage, where it will metamorphose into the adult moth, the caterpillar will change its appearance, adopting more of a turquoise coloration, which looked to be the case in the specimen photographed here.Created: 2008

This 2008 image depicts a anterior inferior view of a Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar’s head region, as the creature was rising up on its thoracic region body segments. It’s hard to imagine, but keep in mind that this caterpillar is actually a developmental stage, or instar, through which the creature passes before becoming an adult, or imago Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis. Just prior to entering its pupal stage, where it will metamorphose into the adult moth, the caterpillar will change its appearance, adopting more of a turquoise coloration, which looked to be the case in the specimen photographed here.Created: 2008

This 2008 image depicts a anterior inferior view of a Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar’s head region, as the creature was rising up on its thoracic region body segments. It’s hard to imagine, but keep in mind that this caterpillar is actually a developmental stage, or instar, through which the creature passes before becoming an adult, or imago Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis. Just prior to entering its pupal stage, where it will metamorphose into the adult moth, the caterpillar will change its appearance, adopting more of a turquoise coloration, which looked to be the case in the specimen photographed here.Created: 2008

This 2008 image depicts a slightly anterior oblique view of a Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar’s head region. It’s hard to imagine, but keep in mind that this caterpillar is actually a developmental stage, or instar, through which the creature passes before becoming an adult, or imago Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis. Just prior to entering its pupal stage, where it will metamorphose into the adult moth, the caterpillar will change its appearance, adopting more of a turquoise coloration, which looked to be the case in the specimen photographed here.Created: 2008

This 2008 image depicts a right lateral view of a Hickory Horned Devil caterpillar’s head region. It’s hard to imagine, but keep in mind that this caterpillar is actually a developmental stage, or instar, through which the creature passes before becoming an adult, or imago Regal Moth, Citheronia regalis. Just prior to entering its pupal stage, where it will metamorphose into the adult moth, the caterpillar will change its appearance, adopting more of a turquoise coloration, which looked to be the case in the specimen photographed here.Created: 2008