Larva of the autumn leaf butterfly

On a tranquil green leaf, I found a caterpillar crawling. The caterpillar was the larva of the autumn leaf butterfly, or Doleschallia bisaltide in Latin. It crawled over the leaf very slowly and carefully. Occasionally, it would sniff the leaf, perhaps inhaling its fresh scent. Although it walked very slowly and leisurely, approaching it at close range required extreme caution, lest it jump. Furthermore, its body was covered in sharp spines.

I noticed that the spines on the caterpillar's body were unique. The spines branched out, resembling a tree whose leaves had all fallen, leaving only the trunk and branches. I had never seen spines like that on any other caterpillar. Furthermore, its coloration was quite striking. To the naked eye, the caterpillar had three colors: orange, white, and shiny black. However, when displayed on the camera, the colors intensified, with a blue shimmer. It was truly unique and fascinating.

Despite its unique and interesting characteristics, it's often overlooked. Only nature photographers and predators, such as small birds, seek it out. I even got goosebumps when I saw its spines. So it's no wonder so few people notice it. But I'm sure when it transforms into something new and grows wings to fly, it'll attract many eyes.