Paul K wrote: ↑Fri Jul 28, 2023 10:56 pm
Thysania agrippina has only 2 pairs of prolegs and the larvae on the photo has at least 3 or 4 but the fourth one is not really visible. Unless the larvae add one more pair while grow?
There is a true photo of freshly emerged larvae. http://www.danske-natur.dk/images121b/bere215539apm.jpg
I think the larva in the photo above has 4 pairs of prolegs judging by the shape of the abdominal segments. I don't know if additional prolegs grow during development, but I suspect not.
If the purpose of the frenulum is to couple the fore and hind wings, why is it that when we pin and spread a moth, positioning the forewing doesn’t automatically move the hindwing up? Is the coupling just that weak? As for why males and females differ, Chris Grinter discusses a possible hypothesis on his website. There is no definitive answer.
