Taipei Fine Arts Museum

The ecological greenhouse and screen house at Taipei Zoo’s Insectarium are favorite spots for visitors of all ages. Here, visitors can admire butterflies up close and observe the larvae and pupae of butterflies and moths through display windows.

Lepidopteran insects go through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Through a developmental process known as complete metamorphosis, they take on very different forms and roles at each stage of life. Caterpillars, the larval stage of butterflies and moths, need to eat large amounts of food in order to grow quickly before pupating after several molts. Because they move slowly and have soft bodies, they are especially vulnerable to predators. As a result, they have evolved a variety of defense strategies, including toxicity, warning coloration, stinging hairs, mimicry, and startle displays.

For example, the black-and-white stripes and red spots on the body of the Paper Kite caterpillar serve as warning coloration, signaling predators to stay away. The toxins it accumulates from feeding on its host plant are retained through metamorphosis and continue to provide protection after it becomes an adult butterfly. Meanwhile, larvae of certain saturniid moths can produce squeaking sounds from the front part of their bodies when disturbed, startling potential predators and helping them escape danger.

Swallowtail caterpillars also possess impressive survival skills. When threatened, the Common Mormon caterpillar extends a brightly colored osmeterium from behind its head, using both its appearance and odor to deter predators. During its early instars, its brown-and-white coloration resembles bird droppings, helping it avoid detection. In its final instar, the caterpillar turns green and blends in with the surrounding leaves, while the false eye spots on its thorax help intimidate enemies.

Another example is the invasive Mango Baron. Its caterpillars are covered with fleshy projections and fine hairs, with a yellow stripe running along the back. They usually rest along leaf veins, camouflaging themselves as part of the leaf and making themselves difficult to detect even at close range.

Visitors can explore the special exhibition, “What’s with That Face? The Head Matters of Insects,” which explore insects from the head up and invites visitors to compare their own senses with the remarkable sensory abilities of insects.