Monomad: Common Baron Caterpillar

The common baron (Euthalia aconthea), sometimes called simply baron, is a medium-sized nymphalid butterfly native to southeast Asia, India, and Sri Lanka. But wait, you must be wondering, "Where is the butterfly? Because here is just a caterpillar covered in dew."

In the butterfly life cycle, of course you have heard about metamorphosis. There are several stages before becoming a beautiful butterfly; it starts with an egg, larva (caterpillar), and pupa, then transforms into a butterfly.

This is the common baron caterpillar. There are many caterpillars like this on the mango tree in my yard. Seeing these caterpillars with the naked eye is difficult. The caterpillar's physical appearance seems to be camouflaged by the leaves. The dew covering those thorns ultimately led me to find this little guy.