Caterpillar

Share Top Five November 10, 2018

As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary and the larvae of sawflies commonly are called caterpillars as well. Both lepidopteran and symphytan larvae have eruciform body shapes.Caterpillars of most species are herbivorous, but not all; some are insectivorous, even cannibalistic. Some feed on other animal products; for example clothes moths feed on wool, and horn moths feed on the hooves and horns of dead ungulates,more info:wiki

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#10 Watch this caterpillar fling its beetle attacker through the air,more info:By Richa Malhotra

Soft, squishy caterpillars might seem like easy prey to a hungry predator, but one species doesn’t give up without a fight. Fully developed caterpillars of the hornworm moth (Langia zenzeroides) use a mix of squeaks, strikes, and vomit to defend themselves from predators, researchers report this month in the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. Hornworm moth larvae respond aggressively when pecked by vertebrate predators such as birds, but it wasn’t clear whether they reacted toward invertebrate predators in a similar fashion—and whether invertebrates, too, could have played a role in the evolution of caterpillar defenses. So, scientists tested how hornworm moth larvae fared in the presence of caterpillar-hunting insects.

Adult ground beetles of the genus Calosoma fit the bill perfectly as they eat a variety of caterpillar species in the wild and take down prey bigger than themselves. But when the beetle approached a hornworm caterpillar, it got attacked and shoved away. And when the beetle tried to bite, the caterpillar launched additional defenses: It squeaked, which is known to startle predators, and threw up on its attacker, possibly as a chemical defense. Most dramatically, two caterpillars grabbed the beetle in their jaws and flung it through the air. One of these even managed to bite off part of the beetle’s right hindleg. All of these strategies paid off: None of the 25 beetles tested was successful in killing a single caterpillar, the team found.

#9 Spot the monarch caterpillars!,more info:whyevolutionistrue.wordpress

#8 A Beginner’s Guide to Caterpillar Identification,more info:animalsake

Caterpillars are one of the many creepy crawlies inhabiting in your garden. On first glance they may all seem the same, but identifying caterpillars can be fun as well as difficult. This article presents a basic identification guide of some of the commonly seen caterpillars.

Studying the life stages of a butterfly is very interesting, especially the phase when a caterpillar turns into cocoon, and then, an adult butterfly emerges from it. It is surprising to see a crawly tiny insect grow into something so delicate and beautiful. If you notice butterflies frequently visiting your garden, look further for caterpillars. Most probably, you will see them crawling in the vegetation, or adhering to the plant foliage.

#7 It’s Caterpillar Season,more info:medium

Each spring, campus plants drip with caterpillars. They dangle from tree limbs, plop on sidewalks, land on unsuspecting picnickers. But last year the critters arrived in such huge numbers they disrupted campus events and sparked a student debate in the Stanford Daily about appropriate remedies. We asked Karen Stidd, supervisor of horticultural support for grounds services, for the lowdown on larvae.

They’re hairy little buggers.

Three species of caterpillar are found on the Farm. The most common is the Western tussock, which looks like a miniature cactus in bloom. Although it hatches black, the tussock develops distinctive red and yellow spots, four tufts of dorsal hair, and spiky clusters of fuzz that can leave a rash on crawled-upon skin. “If you handle them, use gloves,” Stidd advises. The less prominent fruit tree leafroller and California oakworm are green, smooth and kinder to the touch.

#6 Caterpillars,more info:backyardbuddies

All caterpillars turn into moths or butterflies. Other insect larvae are often mistaken for caterpillars. These include saw fly larvae, witchetty grubs, leaf beetle grubs, ladybird larvae, cherry slugs and Bardee grubs. The way to tell the difference is to check out the legs. Caterpillars have sixteen legs: six true legs plus an extra ten small legs called prolegs. Insect larvae on the other hand only have six legs.

#5 13 Stinging Caterpillars,more info:thoughtco

Caterpillars, the larvae of butterflies and moths, come in many shapes and sizes. Though most are harmless, the stinging caterpillars let you know they don’t like to be touched.

Stinging caterpillars share a common defensive strategy to dissuade predators. All have urticating setae, which are barbed spines or hairs. Each hollow setae funnels poison from a special glandular cell. The spines stick in your finger, then break away from the caterpillar’s body and release the toxins into your skin.

When you touch a stinging caterpillar, it hurts. The reaction depends on the caterpillar, the severity of the contact, and the person’s own immune system. You’ll feel some stinging, itching, or burning. You might get a rash, or even some nasty pustules or lesions. In some cases, the area will swell or become numb, or you’ll get nauseated and vomit.

National Capitol Poison Center recommends using tape to remove a caterpillar and any hairs or spines from your skin once you’ve been exposed to avoid more contact with skin. Then wash gently with soap and water and apply baking soda and water paste or a hydrocortisone cream or antihistamine cream (if you aren’t allergic.) If the condition is worse, see a doctor.