Facts on Caterpillars

Caterpillars are the larval stage of butterflies and moths.

Caterpillars are insects that turn into butterflies and moths. They come in many different types and colors and are worm-like in shape with a distinct head. Their bodies have three pairs of short, joined legs with hooks on the thorax and unjoined fleshy appendages called prolegs on the abdomen. They have a row of eyes on either side of their body and silk glands that emit silk strands continuously as they move.

Life Cycle

Caterpillars live for around two weeks to a month before they turn into a butterfly or moth, but some live for up to 10 months. During this time, they grow more than 30,000 times their original size, and as they grow their exoskeleton becomes tight and so they shed their skin. This shedding process happens about four or five times, and after the last shedding the caterpillar fastens itself to a branch and enters the pupa stage, using silk from its silk glands to spin a protective cocoon. It is while inside here that the caterpillar undergoes what is called metamorphosis. During this time the caterpillar's six front legs transform into the adult insects legs and the prolegs disappear. Wings grow and the insect becomes a butterfly or moth.

Diet

Caterpillars spend most of their time eating with their powerful jaws. They are predominately herbivores, which means they eat mostly leaves and plant matter, but some species do eat fungi and dead animal matter, including other caterpillars. An example of this can be seen in the cinnabar caterpillars, who are known for being cannibalistic. This particular species of caterpillar will eat other larvae for no particular reason.

Habitat

Caterpillars live throughout the world. They can be found anywhere from the beach to the forests to the meadows, and some have even been seen in the Antarctic. These particular caterpillars can take two to three years to develop into an adult. Despite being found in a variety of places, caterpillars are mostly located in areas where plant matter is abundant because they are constantly eating.

Threats

Due to their soft bodies and slow movements, caterpillars are targets for many predators including wasps, birds, parasites and humans. Humans pose a particular threat to caterpillars because in some countries they are eaten as food. The large mopani caterpillar is consumed raw by millions of Southern Africans because it is a good source of protein. Some are cooked and eaten crisp as a snack. To protect themselves from other predators, some species have developed defense mechanisms. The zebra caterpillar is poisonous to eat because it eats poisonous foods, and the puss caterpillar squirts acid on predators if they feel threatened.

References

• Switcheroo Zoo: Caterpillar
• Butteryfly House: Frequently Asked Questions about Caterpillars
• Trek Nature: Cinnabar caterpillar
• Encounter South Africa: South African Cuisine - A Melting Pot
• University of Florida: Stinging and Venomous Caterpillars; D.E. Short, D.H. Habeck and J.L. Castner