Large White Caterpillar Pieris brassicae

Large White butterfly caterpillar
Large White butterfly caterpillar head
The Large White Caterpillar is not a large white caterpillar at all but the caterpillar stage of the Large White Butterfly. It is green with yellow and black markings. It eats brassicas (plants including cabbages), making the adult one of the two "cabbage whites."
Large White butterfly caterpillar with mm tape A fully-grown Large White Caterpillar can reach nearly 5cm.
Large White butterfly chrysalides Chrysalides (pupae) of the Large White Butterfly (twice brooded and over-winters as pupa).
Large White butterfly eggs
Large White butterfly eggs
Large White butterfly caterpillar hatchlings
The butterfly's yellow eggs are laid on the food plant, closely packed together (unlike Small White eggs which are laid singly). The hatchlings (above right) eat the egg cases.
Large White butterfly caterpillar
Large White butterfly caterpillar
Large White butterfly caterpillar
The caterpillar goes through about four changes of clothing before it reaches its final size.
Large White butterfly caterpillar skin The shed skin left on a nasturtium stalk.
Large White butterfly caterpillar One before the final outfit.
Large White butterfly caterpillar Final outfit.
Large White butterfly caterpillar
3 Large White butterfly caterpillars
Large White butterfly caterpillar
The fully grown caterpillars ready to pupate.
Large White butterfly caterpillar pupating Pupating (lower caterpillar) and new chrysalis (higher one).
Large White butterfly caterpillar chrysalis The chrysalis is tied to the surface with silk.
Large White butterfly caterpillar empty chrysalis Top item above: empty chrysalis after the butterfly has flown.
Large White butterfly caterpillar chrysalis Chrysalis with the butterfly about to emerge.
Large White butterfly emerged Butterfly emerged - how did it fit into there?