This almost ready to pupate caterpillar is ensconced in a nettle shelter. A little later, a cocoon was formed and last week I noticed the butterfly was almost ready to leave the cocoon (it was translucent and the wing colours were showing through) and today, the cocoon is empty. It is truly amazing to think of the metamorphosis these creatures go through. From this caterpillar to a butterfly! A small, but not insignificant miracle.

Thanks to Ross Layberry for help with identifying this caterpillar. I thought it should be a red admiral as it was in nettle, but it didn't look like any of the red admiral caterpillars I've ever seen. Ross explained that the larvae of this species are highly, highly variable in both colour and pattern.