フユザンショウとカラスアゲハ

林縁に生えるフユザンショウにカラスアゲハの幼虫が休んでいます。すでに終齢幼虫のようで、葉を食べる様子はありません。蛹化に体の準備ができるのを待っているのか、あるいは寒さに体が動かないのか。よく見ると大きな棘を抱えるように体に食い込ませています。空腹を我慢しているようでもあり、寒さに耐えているようでもあり、何か不憫さを感じます。山から下りてくる冷気は夕刻には相当冷たくなっています。明日もう一度観察に出かけて、必要ならば、保護して蛹化させることを考えましょう。

The larvae of the Karasuageha (literally, crow swallowtail, Papilio dehaanii)，are resting on the fuyuzanshou (Zanthoxylum armatum var. subtrifoliatum) leaves that grows at the edge of the forest. They seem to be the instar larvae of the last stage and are not eating the leaves. They were resting still, as if immobilized. Are they waiting for their bodies to be ready to pupate, or are their bodies stuck in the cold? One of them is holding a large spine embedded in its body. The larva seems to be holding it while easing its hunger or enduring the cold. I feel a sense of pity for them. The cold air coming down from the mountains is quite chilly in the evening. I'll have to go out to observe them again tomorrow, and if necessary, I'll think about retreaving it and letting it pupate at home.

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Photo 2021-11-13