First instar - completely black. Shown on my thumbnail for a few reasons:

1. Scale - very rough, but gives a good idea of just how small this first instar is.

2. Many of these photos show the larva on my hand or arm, because it's an active insect that seldom stayed put on a leaf during photo sessions. I know that photos of an insect in hand are not as useful for ID as those showing the insect in its natural habitat, but as this is a captive-reared individual, its container (and my hand) were its habitat. Plus, there are many images of this common and widespread species in nature on the Guide already. I'm not going to offer this explanation/excuse every time my hand is in a photo, but did want to address the issue at the start of the series.

3. My camera's not very good, and is auto-focus only; it doesn't focus well on small, close-up subjects unless some human body part is nearby. Until I get a better camera, I'll sometimes be in the picture.