Maria Sibylla Merian — Der rupsen begin, voedzel en wonderbaare verandering (1712)

X I.

Cherry Blossom.                             Ceraſus auſtera, florens Flowering Sour Cherry.

I have often found similar light-brown caterpillars on these trees; they curl the leaves together, in which they hide themselves. They are very nimble and walk just as well backward as forward. When one touches them, they let themselves downward on a thread from their mouth. I fed them until the 6th of May, when they made a white cocoon and transformed into brown pupae. On the 27th of October, such light-brown butterflies Merian uses the term Kapelletjes here, often synonymous with butterflies or day-flying moths came out of them, as is depicted to the side.

I have found many such yellowish caterpillars on the cherry trees; they roll the green leaves together and are very nimble; they walk just as well backward as forward; when touched, they let themselves down on a thread, by which they also know how to move back up. I fed them until the 6th of May, when they made a white cocoon; on the 27th of October, such light-brown owlet-moths came out of them, as is depicted above on a green leaf.

X I I.

Yellow Wallflower.                             Viola lutea Yellow Violet/Wallflower.

On this wallflower, one finds such thin green caterpillars; they are longer in proportion than other caterpillars; they have no feet under the body. When they move forward, they bring the rear part of the body to the front, thus making a high arch, and so speed their way. I have found that in June they spin themselves fast to a leaf and transform into a brown pupa; in July a beautiful brown butterfly comes out of it, as is depicted here next to the flower.

On that yellow flower lies a small white worm, which I found in a turnip; this transformed into a barrel-shaped pupa. After ten days, a small fly came out of it, as is depicted above on the flower.