5th instar

The first of the six caterpillars I'm watching - Gautama - has reached the fifth and final instar. This photo was taken this evening, after I got back from a day trip butterfly-hunting:

Two days ago, his leaf weighed down by the rain, he looked like this:

Yesterday, he was still laid up. Thus, I know he ecdysed today (or last night) - exactly two weeks after his last transition. If he spends the usual 17-18 days in fifth instar, then a couple more preparing to pupate, we are looking at a June emergence. One other caterpillar, Kisāgotamī, has been laid up a day longer than Gautama but still not shed her skin. This was her tonight:

Guy

EDIT: As expected, Kisāgotamī had shed her skin by the time I checked on her this morning, 22nd May: