File:Fifthinstarwingdisk.png

This work has been released into the public domain by its author, Mike Serfas. This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so: Mike Serfas grants anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.

On the last day of the last (fifth) larval instar, the wing disks of Junonia coenia grow at a tremendous rate and accumulate the soluble brown substance visible in this photo. Only the dark brown region will survive as the adult wing. The clear area to the right, top, and bottom dies in the early pupa by en:apoptosis, so the new margin of the wing is at the right edge of the brown area. The clear areas within the brown region correspond to the potential development of eyespot foci - some positions will go on to form the centers of sets of circular color bands, while others lose this potential and have no effect on wing pattern.