Wonderfully Colorful Caterpillars Photographed by Samuel Jaffe

The star of one of nature’s most incredible transformations, the caterpillar is a fascinating creature. The larval stage of the Lepidoptera creature, caterpillars have nearly 180,000 known species. This means that caterpillars take all manner of shapes, sizes, colors, and patterns.

Photographer Samuel Jaffe shows us the diversity of these species with his series of images that feel museum-like in quality and clarity.

Images © Copyright Samuel Jaffe. Via Colossal:

“Jaffe has cataloged dozens of caterpillars in different settings, each with a blackened background to highlight their unique textures, colors, and patterns.

Caterpillars dangle off branches, clutch onto leaves, and even play on grapevines within his photographs.

Catching his subjects at specific moments, Jaffe gives each a little pop of personality, showcasing their playfulness when left alone in nature.”

-Colossal