Hi all bug lovers! Upon further enquiry on the specialist insect forums & sites I've been told that the dark-brown coloration of those Nezara viridula I posted is due to melamin induced by the cold. Here are a few more pics taken today showing the wide variety of colouration. One wouldn't believe they are all the same species.
N. viridula larvae getting its brown melamine coat
N. viridula Adult stage
N. viridula larvae now almost brown all over
Hi there!
Assorted group of N. viridula larvae
Note.- Photos #1 and #4 taken with the Focus Stacking technique for greater depth of field and clarity.
I found a fox moth caterpillar out in the freezing weather recently. It was in the middle of the road and going along so slowly you could only just see the movement. I warmed it up a bit and tucked it into some leaves under the trees. I wonder what made it leave home at this time of year?
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
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