At the top of the photo is a caterpillar of the Pipevine Swallowtail butterfly. The caterpillar has a dark-brown body with bright orange tubercles (elongated conical shapes) emerging from each section of its long body, and in two parallel rows along the symmetrical midline of its body. A rectangular inset photo shows the upper-back of the fawn of a Mule-deer, which has two parallel rows of white spots in the light-brown fur along the symmetrical midline of its body. The rows of colored tubercles and white spots are both probably defensive coloration. The caterpillar's tubercles may help it attach to the inside of the chrysalis during that phase of its life.
It's the #summer #solstice on our fragile little planet.
Sagital-plane midline symmetrical defensive #coloration and structure.
Top: #caterpillar of #Pipevine #butterfly with orange #tubercles (may help chrysalis)
Inset: #MuleDeer #fawn spotted rows along spine
#life #nature #wildlifephotography
