The metamorphosis of a Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

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Even after a short time the first skin is getting too small.  05/03/92, 11:50

The first peeling is managed!

05/10/92, 17:30 Again the skin is getting too small.
05/11/92, 21:30

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After that peeling you can suspect the caterpillar's typical appearance, but the white saddle still exists. Immediately after peeling the head is white. Now the head is colored. Nothing gets lost in nature: The old skin is being eaten.
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Just three days after the last peeling the skin is getting too small again.
Also here you can see the bulged out neck-fork.

05/14/.92, 17:00
The penultimate dress of the swallowtail's caterpillar.
05/15/92, 18:30
There is a big appetite!
05/17/92
Now the caterpillar is fully-grown.
05/19/92, 06:00

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19 Days after hatching out the tiny caterpillar became a really monster!
05/21/92, 17:20  scale *

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