Caterpillar of Archduke butterfly (Lexias pardalis dirteana)

The 3rd instar caterpillar is still orangy brown in body color. The protuberances have all become much longer in proportion. The branched spines appear almost like a bird's feather, with the secondary spines arranged neatly around the main spine. The tip section of the main spine is colored in brighter shade of yellow compared to the rest of the protuberance. Dorsally there are two long and thin bands, in much lighter shade of orangy brown. The 3rd instar lasts for 4-5 days and reaches a length of about 16-18mm before the next moult. Towards the end of this instar, the body color gradually changes to pale yellowish green.