For most of us, butterflies and spring time are synonymous. I had the great fortune a few years ago to live close to a butterfly conservatory where I'd spend hours with my kids. We often had the place all to ourselves, and after taking quite a number of photos, I'd sit on one of the benches and simply marvel at the combined beauty of a sunny day, butterflies in all their various life stages, and little girls.
The shots above are of the monarch butterfly in the larva stage, better known as the caterpillar.
Here's another butterfly-to-be in his rather sinister larval state:
