Timelapse: Watch a caterpillar crawl out of its skin

By Andy Jeffrey September 11 2015

Samuel Jaffe is quite the caterpillar enthusiast. Having grown up in the eastern United States, Jaffe spends his days exploring the local forests seeking out unique specimens to photograph for his latest project, The Caterpillar Lab. In this video, he shows us a one-of-a-kind view of a saddleback slug moth caterpillar (genus Acharia) shedding from the inside out.

Saddleback Shed Ventral View
THIS IS SOME CRAZY STUFF FOLKS! A look INSIDE a caterpillar as it sheds its skin. The Saddleback Slug Caterpillar - Acharia stimulea - as viewed through a glass slide. HD for best results.The Caterpillar Lab is proud to present this one-of-a-kind and revealing video of a caterpillar shedding from the "inside." As the video moves forward you can see the Saddleback breaking free from its skin and leaving its old spines and head capsule behind. A close up view shows the new and old layers of skin pulling apart and the tracheal breathing tubes being drawn out and shed from within the caterpillar's body. All the while, structures including the tracheae and malphigian tubules are shifting inside the caterpillars body as the heart works overtime pumping hemolymph and shifting internal pressures.Questions? We have many!Sam,TCL Director
Posted by The Caterpillar Lab on Tuesday, 8 September 2015

Caterpillars can shed their skin as many as five times during their transformation to becoming a moth or butterfly. “As the video moves forward you can see the saddleback breaking free from its skin and leaving its old spines and head capsule behind. A close-up view shows the new and old layers of skin pulling apart and the tracheal breathing tubes being drawn out and shed from within the caterpillar's body,” explains Jaffe.

Those spines you see covering the body as the caterpillar emerges from its skin are called urticating hairs, which are venomous and can cause mild itchiness or burning when touched. However, more serious symptoms like anaphylactic shock and haemorrhaging can occur. Jaffe is experienced in handling these creatures, but for the rest of us, a look-don't-touch approach is best.

Earth Touch News

Andy Jeffrey

Andy Jeffrey is a nature-loving nerd with a penchant for Star Wars and fast cars. A self-proclaimed Indiana Jones wannabe (right down to the irrational fear of snakes), he can be spotted digging through anthropology books in his spare time. Find him on Twitter @andrew_jay or in Earth Touch's 2-Minute Roundup series. VIEW more from this CONTRIBUTOR

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