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MARIA SIBYLLA MERIAN (1647-1717)
Branch of a Fig with Sphinx Moths
1702-03RCIN 921189
The Fig Sphinx Moth caterpillar can change colour before becoming a deep red chrysalis, and Merian shows both in her illustration. The moth in flight is a Fig Sphinx Moth (Pachylia ficus) while that shown resting is another from the Sphinx Moth family. Carolus Linnaeus used Merian’s depictions to classify the Sphinx Moth family in his System of Nature.