Unlike vertebrates, insects are covered with a hard external skeleton. Therefore, they must molt in order to grow. Even soft caterpillars must shed their external skeletons. An example of a caterpillar is shown on the right. To learn more about the growth and development of butterflies, visit the links below.

 

+ life stages

 

+ caterpillars

Photo of mature Catocala caterpillar (Noctuidae)

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