Uncover how evolution links life stages in metamorphic species A foundational exploration of how larval and adult forms can tell different stories about a species’ history, and what that means for how we classify life. This volume surveys whether there is a fixed correlation of form between caterpillars and butterflies, and asks if their developmental paths stay in sync. It argues that external conditions can remap one stage while leaving another unchanged, challenging traditional ideas of taxonomic similarity. Learn how different life stages may follow separate evolutionary paths - See why systematics might depend on both larval and adult forms - Explore examples from caterpillars, including eye-spot patterns and color changes - Consider broader comparisons to other animal groups and what they reveal about evolution Ideal for readers curious about evolutionary theory, taxonomy, and the history of biology.