This page will contain news stories about Caterpillar, as they become available.CaterpillarA caterpillar is the larval form of a lepidopteran (a member of the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). Caterpillars have long segmented bodies and many sets of "legs". They eat leaves voraciously, grow rapidly, shed their skins generally four or five times, and eventually pupate into an adult form. Caterpillars have six true legs (being hexapods) on the thorax, up to four pairs of prolegs on the middle segments of the abdomen, and sometimes a single pair of prolegs on the last abdominal segment. The sawfly larva (Hymenoptera) superficially resembles a caterpillar, but can usually be distinguished because the caterpillar has a gap between true legs and prolegs, whereas the sawfly does not. Another difference is that lepidopteran caterpillars have crochets or hooks on the prolegs. The gap between the prolegs and the true legs can vary from a slight gap in some species to a large gap in families such as the geometridae. The geometrids, also known as inchworms or loopers, are so named because of the way they locomote, appearing to measure the earth (the word 'geometrid' means 'earth-measurer' in Greek). Caterpillar of the monarch butterflyCaterpillars do not breathe through their mouths. Air enters their bodies through a series of small tubules along the sides of their thorax and abdomen. These tubules are called 'spiracles', and inside the body they connect together into a network of airtubes or 'tracheae'. Caterpillars do not have very good eyesight or senses. Rather than having fully-developed eyes they have a series of six tiny eyelets or 'ocelli' on the lower portion of their head. They rely on their antennae to help them locate food. Many species of birds and animals consider caterpillars to be a tasty protein snack, so the caterpillars have evolved several methods of protecting and/or camouflaging themselves. These methods can be either passive, aggressive, or both. Some caterpillars have large 'false eyes' towards the rear of their abdomen. This is an attempt to convince predators that their back is actually their front, giving them an opportunity to escape to the 'rear' when attacked. Others have a body coloration that closely resembles their food plant. More aggressive self-defence measures are taken by the spitfires and hairy caterpillars. These caterpillars have spiny bristles or long fine hairs that will irritate anything that brushes against them, or spit acidic digestive juices at potential enemies. However, some birds, like cuckoos, will swallow the hairiest of caterpillars. CaterpillarSome caterpillars eat the leaves of plants that are toxic to other animals. They are unaffected by the poison themselves, but it builds up in their system, making them highly toxic to anything that eats one of them. These toxic species, such as the Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae) caterpillars, are brightly striped or coloured in red and yellow - the 'danger' colours. Caterpillars have rightfully been called eating machines. They have the fastest growth rate of any animal in the world. For instance, a tobacco hornworm will increase its own weight ten thousand times in less than twenty days. One of their adaptations that enables them to eat this much is a mechanism in a specialized midgut which transports ions at a very high rate to the lumen (midgut cavity), to keep the potassium level higher in the midgut cavity than in the blood. This mechanism is not found in any vertebrates. The aim of all these aggressive defense measures is to assure that any predator that eats (or tries to eat) one of them will not be in a hurry to repeat the experience. Some caterpillars obtain protection by associating themselves with ants. The Lycaenid butterflies are particularly well known. Recent findings have shown that they communicate with their ant protectors by means of vibrations as well as chemical means. Some caterpillars are considered serious pests of agriculture or forestry. The include the Small White butterfly (brassicas), the Pine Butterfly, and the Codling Moth (apples). "Tiny, snail-eating caterpillars found in Hawaiian rain forests tie up their prey with sticky silk and snack on them at leisure. [...] It is the first time that caterpillars that eat snails or any other mollusk have been found." July 22, 2005 Other carnivorous species of caterpillars are also known, but still represent a tiny fraction of all known representatives of these insect larvae. Literature and art
Additional photosFor a series of photographs showing caterpillar life-cycle, see Emperor Gum Moth. This page about Caterpillar includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Caterpillar News stories about Caterpillar External links for Caterpillar Videos for Caterpillar Wikis about Caterpillar Discussion Groups about Caterpillar Blogs about Caterpillar Images of Caterpillar |
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For a series of photographs showing caterpillar life-cycle, see Emperor Gum Moth. Civil War(s) is also a title used for various published works, recordings, etc.:. Other carnivorous species of caterpillars are also known, but still represent a tiny fraction of all known representatives of these insect larvae. Civil war may also refer to a "war-like" competition within a country or state:. [...] It is the first time that caterpillars that eat snails or any other mollusk have been found." July 22, 2005. Civil war may refer to:. "Tiny, snail-eating caterpillars found in Hawaiian rain forests tie up their prey with sticky silk and snack on them at leisure. Civil War, Marvel Comics' big crossover event for summer 2006. The include the Small White butterfly (brassicas), the Pine Butterfly, and the Codling Moth (apples). from 1991-1993. Some caterpillars are considered serious pests of agriculture or forestry. Civil Wars, a television legal drama that aired on ABC in the U.S. Recent findings have shown that they communicate with their ant protectors by means of vibrations as well as chemical means. "Civil War", a song by Guns N' Roses. The Lycaenid butterflies are particularly well known. Civil War, a short story by Liam O'Flaherty. Some caterpillars obtain protection by associating themselves with ants. Bellum civile (The Civil War), a poem by Lucan. The aim of all these aggressive defense measures is to assure that any predator that eats (or tries to eat) one of them will not be in a hurry to repeat the experience. More generally, the term is used to refer to any athletic competition (in any sport) pitting the two schools against each other. This mechanism is not found in any vertebrates. "The Civil War", an American football game between the University of Oregon and Oregon State University. One of their adaptations that enables them to eat this much is a mechanism in a specialized midgut which transports ions at a very high rate to the lumen (midgut cavity), to keep the potassium level higher in the midgut cavity than in the blood. Russian Civil War. For instance, a tobacco hornworm will increase its own weight ten thousand times in less than twenty days. English Civil War. They have the fastest growth rate of any animal in the world. American Civil War. Caterpillars have rightfully been called eating machines. Any particular civil war (see list of civil wars for a comprehensive list):
They are unaffected by the poison themselves, but it builds up in their system, making them highly toxic to anything that eats one of them. Some caterpillars eat the leaves of plants that are toxic to other animals. However, some birds, like cuckoos, will swallow the hairiest of caterpillars. These caterpillars have spiny bristles or long fine hairs that will irritate anything that brushes against them, or spit acidic digestive juices at potential enemies. More aggressive self-defence measures are taken by the spitfires and hairy caterpillars. Others have a body coloration that closely resembles their food plant. This is an attempt to convince predators that their back is actually their front, giving them an opportunity to escape to the 'rear' when attacked. Some caterpillars have large 'false eyes' towards the rear of their abdomen. These methods can be either passive, aggressive, or both. Many species of birds and animals consider caterpillars to be a tasty protein snack, so the caterpillars have evolved several methods of protecting and/or camouflaging themselves. They rely on their antennae to help them locate food. Rather than having fully-developed eyes they have a series of six tiny eyelets or 'ocelli' on the lower portion of their head. Caterpillars do not have very good eyesight or senses. These tubules are called 'spiracles', and inside the body they connect together into a network of airtubes or 'tracheae'. Air enters their bodies through a series of small tubules along the sides of their thorax and abdomen. Caterpillars do not breathe through their mouths. The geometrids, also known as inchworms or loopers, are so named because of the way they locomote, appearing to measure the earth (the word 'geometrid' means 'earth-measurer' in Greek). The gap between the prolegs and the true legs can vary from a slight gap in some species to a large gap in families such as the geometridae. Another difference is that lepidopteran caterpillars have crochets or hooks on the prolegs. The sawfly larva (Hymenoptera) superficially resembles a caterpillar, but can usually be distinguished because the caterpillar has a gap between true legs and prolegs, whereas the sawfly does not. Caterpillars have six true legs (being hexapods) on the thorax, up to four pairs of prolegs on the middle segments of the abdomen, and sometimes a single pair of prolegs on the last abdominal segment. They eat leaves voraciously, grow rapidly, shed their skins generally four or five times, and eventually pupate into an adult form. Caterpillars have long segmented bodies and many sets of "legs". A caterpillar is the larval form of a lepidopteran (a member of the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). Caterpillar is a song by the live electronica band The Disco Biscuits [1]. Music
TV series
Hookah-smoking caterpillar: Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Children's stories
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