Green caterpillar what a butterfly. Types of caterpillars - description, features and interesting facts. Types of caterpillars and butterflies

25.10.2019

A caterpillar is a larva of a butterfly, moth or moth - insects from the Lepidoptera order.

Caterpillar - description, characteristics, structure and photo. What does a caterpillar look like?

torso

The length of the caterpillar, in accordance with the variety, varies from a few millimeters to 12 cm, as in individual specimens of the Saturnia butterfly (peacock-eye).

The body of the caterpillar consists of a well-defined head, thoracic, abdominal sections and several pairs of limbs located on the chest and abdomen.

Head

The head of the caterpillar is represented by six fused segments that form a rigid capsule. Between the forehead and the eyes, the cheek area is conditionally distinguished, at the bottom of the head there is an occipital foramen, which looks like a heart.

The round head shape is typical for most caterpillars, although there are exceptions. For example, many hawks have a triangle-shaped head, while other species have a rectangular-shaped head. The parietal parts can strongly protrude above the head, forming a kind of “horns”. Small antennae, consisting of 3 consecutive joints, grow on the sides of the head.

oral apparatus

All caterpillars are distinguished by a gnawing type of mouth apparatus. The upper jaws of the insect are well formed: their upper edge contains denticles designed for nibbling or tearing food. Inside there are tubercles that perform the function of chewing food. The salivary glands are transformed into specific spinning (silk-releasing) glands.

Eyes

The eyes of caterpillars are a primitive visual apparatus containing a single lens. Usually several simple eyes are located one after another, in an arc, or they form 1 compound eye, fused from 5 simple ones. Plus 1 eye is located inside this arc. Thus, in total, caterpillars have 5-6 pairs of eyes.

torso

The body of the caterpillar consists of segments separated by grooves and is dressed in a soft shell, which provides the body with maximum mobility. The anus is surrounded by special lobes with varying degrees of development.

The respiratory organ of insects, the spiracle, is a stigma located on the chest. Only in species living in water, spiracles are replaced by tracheal gills.

Most caterpillars have 3 pairs of thoracic limbs and 5 pairs of false ventral legs. The ventral limbs end in small hooks. On each thoracic limb there is a sole with a claw, which the caterpillar retracts or protrudes when moving.

Absolutely naked caterpillars do not exist: the body of each is covered with various formations - outgrowths, hairs or a well-grown cuticle. Cuticle growths are star-shaped, spikes or granules that look like small hairs or bristles. Moreover, the bristles grow in a strictly defined way, characteristic of a particular family, genus, and even species. Outgrowths consist of relief skin formations-tubercles, similar to flat, round or oval warts and spines. Caterpillar hairs are represented by thin individual threads or bundles.

life in a cocoon

In order to survive during the period of "inactivity" and defenselessness, the caterpillars find a suitable leaf, branch or tree trunk, to which they can quietly "stick" with a strong silk thread, which they secrete from the abdomen.

To understand how a caterpillar turns into butterflies, you should delve into its ability to properly prepare yourself for this.

Having stuck to the chosen surface, the caterpillar hangs on a silk thread and begins to wrap itself around the calf with it. This happens gradually, but what is important, when wrapping, the caterpillar gives its cocoon a look similar to a leaf, bud or stem of a plant chosen by it.

The resemblance is so obvious that only a very observant eye can spot the cocoon on its surface. This is done so that the defenseless caterpillar is not found and eaten.

How a caterpillar turns into a butterfly inside a cocoon can only be seen by taking pictures with special equipment in the laboratory. This process is so slow and secretive that it is impossible to observe it in nature.

The reserves that the caterpillar managed to lay aside in its body are quite enough for the strength to metamorphose it into a butterfly.

Types of caterpillars - photos and names

Among the great variety of different caterpillars, the following varieties are of greatest interest:

Cabbage caterpillar or cabbage moth caterpillar(cabbage white) (lat. Pieris brassicae) lives throughout of Eastern Europe, northern Africa to the Japanese islands, and also introduced to South America. The caterpillar is 3.5 cm long, has 16 legs and is distinguished by a light green body covered with black warts and short black hairs. Depending on the weather, the caterpillar stage lasts from 13 to 38 days. These caterpillars feed on cabbage, horseradish, radish, turnip, turnip, and shepherd's purse. They are considered the main pest of cabbage.

Caterpillar moth (surveyors)(lat. Geometridae) is characterized by a long thin body and undeveloped abdominal legs, due to which it differs in an original way of movement - it bends in a loop, while pulling the abdominal legs to the chest ones. The family unites more than 23 thousand species of moths distributed throughout the world. All types of caterpillars of this family have well-developed muscles, therefore they are able to strengthen themselves vertically on plants, perfectly imitating broken branches and petioles. The color of the caterpillars is similar to the color of the foliage or bark, which is additionally an excellent camouflage. They eat tree needles, currants and hazel.

Great harpy caterpillar(lat. Cerura vinula = Dicranura vinula) lives throughout Europe, in Central Asia and in northern Africa. Adult caterpillars grow up to 6 cm and are distinguished by a green body with a purple rhombus on the back, bordered by a white outline. In case of danger, the caterpillar inflates, assumes a threatening posture and sprays out a caustic substance. In the caterpillar stage, the insect stays from the beginning of summer to September, feeds on the leaves of plants from the willow and poplar families, including common aspen.

Redtail caterpillar(shy woolly paws) (lat. Calliteara pudibunda) is found in the forest-steppe zone throughout Eurasia, as well as in Asia Minor and Central Asia. The caterpillar up to 5 cm long is pinkish, brown or gray. The body is densely covered with individual hairs or tufts of hairs, at the end there is a tail of protruding crimson hairs. This is a poisonous caterpillar: when in contact with human skin, it causes a painful allergy. These caterpillars eat leaves. different trees and shrubs, especially preferring hops.

Silkworm caterpillar(lat. Bombyx mori) or silkworm. Lives in East Asia: in the north of China and in Russia, in the southern regions of Primorye. The length of the caterpillar is 6-7 cm, its wavy body is densely covered with blue and brown hairy warts. After 4 molts, completing the 32-day development cycle, the color of the caterpillar turns yellow. The food of the silkworm caterpillar is exclusively mulberry leaves. This insect has been actively used in sericulture since the 27th century BC. e.

Corrosive tree caterpillar(lat. Zeuzera pyrina) from the woodworm family. It is found on the territory of all European countries, except for the Far North, as well as in South Africa, Southeast Asia and North America. Winters twice, during which time it changes color from yellow-pink to yellow-orange with black, glossy warts. The length of the insect is 5-6 cm. Caterpillars live inside the branches and trunks of various trees, feeding on their juices.

Lady Bear Caterpillar(lat. Callimorpha dominula) or she-bear-girl lives on the territory of the Eastern, Western Europe and in southeast Asia. Winters 1 time, differs in black-blue color with yellow stripes and specks. Lives on nettles, geraniums, willows, raspberries, strawberries, and feeds on them.

Swallowtail caterpillar(lat. Papilio machaon) lives throughout Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North America. One of the most colorful caterpillars: at first black, with scarlet warts, and as it grows, it becomes green with black transverse stripes. Each strip contains 6-8 red-orange spots. A disturbed caterpillar secretes an odorous orange-yellow liquid. It feeds on carrots, celery, wormwood, parsley, and sometimes alder leaves.

The smallest caterpillar in the world is a member of the moth family. For example, the caterpillars of the clothes moth (lat. Tineola bisselliella), which have just emerged from the egg, reach a length of only 1 mm.

The biggest caterpillar in the world- this is the caterpillar of the peacock-eye atlas (lat. Attacus atlas). The bluish-green caterpillar, as if powdered with white dust, grows up to 12 cm in length.

Poisonous caterpillars - description, types and photos.

Among the caterpillars there are quite poisonous specimens, so the bite of such a caterpillar or an accidental touch to it can cause unpleasant sensations. Usually such contact ends with pain at the point of contact, redness and swelling of the skin, less often an itchy rash may appear. There are frequent cases of drowsiness, headache, gastrointestinal disorders, increased blood pressure and temperature. In a word, do not be deceived by the bright and spectacular appearance of these creatures - sometimes they are dangerous.

The most famous poisonous caterpillars, ready to defend themselves from enemies and protect their food from encroachment with the help of a "poisonous cocktail", include:

Coquette caterpillar (lat. Megalopyge opercularis)
Saddle caterpillar (lat. Sibine stimulea)
Caterpillar "burning rose" (lat. Parasa indetermina)
Spiny oak slug caterpillar (lat. Euclea delphinii)
Cross bear caterpillar (lat. Tyria jacobaeae)
Caterpillar of the marching silkworm (lat. Thaumetopoea pityocampa)
Hickory bear caterpillar (lat. Lophocampa caryae)
Caterpillar “lazy clown” (lat. Lonomia obliqua)
Caterpillar Saturnia Maya (lat. Hemileuca maia)
Volnyanka caterpillar (lat. Orgyia leucostigma)

Poison caterpillar(lat. Megalopyge opercularis) is an insect that looks quite cute and resembles a miniature furry animal. However, this caterpillar is one of the most poisonous caterpillars found on the North American continent and Mexico. The color of the "fur coat", under which there are poisonous spikes, varies from light gray to golden or red-brown. The length of the caterpillar does not exceed three centimeters, the width of the body is 1 cm, but even such a modest size makes it very dangerous. After contact with an insect, after a couple of minutes, an acute throbbing pain and a noticeable reddening of the skin integuments appear at the point of contact, up to bruising. Later, there is a painful enlargement of the lymph nodes, shortness of breath and chest pain.

saddle caterpillar(lat. Sibine stimulea) - a bright green caterpillar, both ends of the body are brown, the middle of the body has a brownish spot enclosed in a white border, which makes this area look like a saddle. The length of the caterpillar that lives in North and South America is 2-3 centimeters, two pairs of fleshy horns-outgrowths are equipped with hard hairs, which contain a rather strong poison. A prick of these hairy stings causes severe pain, swelling of the skin, rash and nausea that lasts for several days.

Poisonous caterpillar "lazy clown"(lat. Lonomia obliqua) - an insect that massively lives in Uruguay and Mozambique, has the most powerful of all natural toxins known today. The caterpillar can reach 6-7 centimeters in length, has a greenish-brown color, and the poison accumulates in herringbone-shaped spikes. He loves shade, so usually the caterpillar lives in the foliage of trees, but often moves into the courtyards of the residential sector. As a result of contact with this insect, painful hemorrhages appear on the skin, caterpillar venom can affect internal organs, causing renal colic, bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, pulmonary edema, and even disorders of the nervous system.

Fighting caterpillars: means and methods.

Many species of caterpillars are pests and eat fruit trees, fruits and vegetables.

To combat caterpillars, there are many methods, combined into 3 main groups:

mechanical means of struggle with caterpillars, folk methods consist in manually collecting and shaking caterpillars from plants, as well as cutting wintering clutches. Trapping caterpillars with the help of trapping glue belts and various traps with bait liquid is considered a proven method.
biological control methods aimed at attracting natural enemies of caterpillars, primarily birds. To do this, comfortable conditions are created in the gardens for their nesting (birdhouses, nest boxes, feeders) and with a small number of caterpillars are completely destroyed.
chemical control methods with caterpillars are considered the most effective, but caterpillars are addictive, so poisonous drugs (biological and chemical) should be alternated. Rovikurt, Karbofos, Lepidocide, Kilzar, Karate are considered to be excellent means.

If the invasion of caterpillars is not significantly threatening, as a struggle, you can try decoctions and infusions of plants: black henbane (against cabbage caterpillar), hemlock (against all leaf-eating caterpillars), as well as red elderberry and pepper knotweed.

Entomophagy, or the eating of insects, has flourished since prehistoric times. Caterpillars of more than 80 genera of butterflies take pride of place in the gourmet menu. Caterpillars are eaten raw or fried, dried on hot coals, boiled, salted, added to omelettes and sauces.
The silkworm is of great economic importance for a number of silk-producing countries. After all, 9 kg of silk thread can be isolated from 100 kg of cocoons.
The coloring of any caterpillar to some extent imitates the conditions environment and is the best remedy camouflage and protection.

Video

Some consider caterpillars to be extremely cute tiny creatures, while others are terrified of them. However, few people know how amazing and beautiful the world of caterpillars really is.

These larvae go through one of the most incredible transformations in the wild, communicating with the most unexpected body parts and exuding nicotine fumes!

In our list you will also find details about how caterpillars manage to subdue ants, move in space and see the larva, which is copied by Donald Trump himself (Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States).

10. Portable body armor

More recently, in Peru, scientists have discovered a new species of caterpillars, which they called hermit crabs for their habits, very reminiscent of the behavior of these arthropod creatures. Previously, no one had ever seen simple caterpillars behave this way. The new kind has a habit of making himself a kind of protective suit, reminiscent of a portable cage or bulletproof vest. The reinforcement is twisted straight from the leaves, which this creature has learned to roll into a tiny roll. The caterpillar climbs into its cocoon of leaves and moves through the forest with the help of its mouth and forelimbs, dragging its protective suit everywhere with it. While the larva is getting its own food, its body remains under the protection of a leaf cocoon. The smart creature even provided a special recess in the center of its bulletproof vest, which allows it to quickly turn around inside this protective structure, if the caterpillar suddenly needs to urgently get out of the twisted sheet through the “back door”.

9. Amazing camouflage

Caterpillars resort to all kinds of disguise to protect their soft bodies from animals and insects that are not averse to feasting on these little creatures. Some caterpillars look like bird droppings, others have got bright spots that look just like snake eyes, and there are larvae that have learned to imitate their poisonous relatives, which is why predators prefer to bypass them.

However, among all this soft-bodied fraternity, there is one type of caterpillars that has absolutely unique abilities. The larvae of the moth Synchlora aerata disguise itself in a rather ingenious way - for camouflage, it uses pieces of petals and other parts of the plants that it feeds on. With leaves, this caterpillar decorates its back with sticky saliva, and when its colorful costume decays, the animal tears off the old disguise and starts all over again.

8. Jumping caterpillar

In the forests of South Vietnam, to start the pupation process, the caterpillars wrap themselves in leaves, like in a sleeping bag. And a species called Calindoea trifascialis has even learned to jump on the ground right in such a leafy cocoon, and it does this to hide from the sun's rays. To jump, this larva rests its abdominal pairs of legs on the bottom of its "sleeping bag" and pushes itself back, jumping in the opposite direction from its head.

The caterpillar can jump like this for almost 3 days, until it finds a suitable place for itself to transcend to the final transformation into a butterfly. When Professor Chris Darling began studying these small yellow larvae in 1998, he and his students noticed that the jumping creature was secreting a strange fluid. Not every sane person would have guessed to lick such a caterpillar, but Chris did it! He did not feel any special taste, but soon his tongue became numb, which, according to the professor, was the result of the defense system of the larva, which used its chemical weapons against him.

In the laboratory, the scientist found out what kind of liquid he licked, and it turned out to be an unpleasantly smelling mixture of hydrocarbons and hydrocyanic acid produced by the body of an insect. The smell of this poisonous liquid fills the caterpillar's homemade cocoon and repels ants and other voracious predators that would otherwise sink their teeth into the larva's protein-rich body.

7. Caterpillar with a hat

And this larva is the future moth of the Uraba lugens species, but before its legendary transformation into a winged creature, it lives an equally amazing life. On her head, it is easy to notice a process in the form of an eccentric horn. Such a strange part of the caterpillar's body is actually a "hat" from its old head capsules, which it throws off during each new molt. Each time the caterpillar sheds its old skin, it shifts its old head shell to the very top of the new and now larger head, creating a new level of amazing crown over and over again.

During its life, the Uraba lugens larva molts about 13 times before the final pupation, so sometimes a real tower of old body parts can line up on the head of such a caterpillar, which can be even larger than the larva itself. Why exactly she does this is still unknown, but for some time the researchers assumed that the unique headdress of this creature is a kind of security system. Perhaps the horn distracts the predators, and they attack the empty head capsules, and the real caterpillar just manages to escape at this time.

Such a theory sounded quite plausible for some time, until scientists conducted a series of experiments that showed that both caterpillars without hats and larvae with horns that fell into a petri dish along with insects that feed on them coped with the task of self-defense in almost the same way. They probably just like collecting their own heads...

6. Musical maestro in the world of insects

It turns out that there is a species of caterpillar that has developed a highly organized method of communication. For example, some larvae have learned to talk to each other using the back of their bodies. Scientists from Carlton University (Canada) found that birch silkworm caterpillars have special anal processes that they use to scrape the leaves to signal their relatives.

This is not the only way of communication that these larvae practice. Birch silkworms have also learned to shake their bodies and drum their mouthparts (mandibles) on the surface of the leaf, whereby they produce a range of different sounds and signals to other caterpillars in their community. As soon as one caterpillar begins to scratch and shake the leaves, its other brethren perceive this as a signal for a general gathering and crawl in the direction of the signal until they all gather together in one common group.

Researchers have not yet figured out what each type of signal means separately, and some of the scientists even believe that these caterpillars do not actually communicate with each other. But evolutionary biologist Jayne Yack has a different opinion: "I've been studying insect sounds for over 30 years, and I've never seen an insect make so many different signals." Probably caterpillars use all these sounds and vibrations to form social groups.

5. Toxic nicotine breath

One of the favorite snacks of the tobacco hawk caterpillar is extremely toxic tobacco leaves. This plant contains a poisonous substance (nicotine), which it uses as a defense against herbivores, otherwise the animals would have destroyed this species long ago. But the tobacco hawk moth not only enjoys eating these toxic and even deadly leaves for some animals, but also learned to use tobacco as a personal weapon against other predators. The caterpillar redirects nicotine from its digestive system into the hemolymph (analogous to blood flow in the world of insects). The hawk larva then opens small pores in its skin (spiracles) and emits toxic fumes from them. Biologists have called this process protective halitosis (the medical term for halitosis). When poisonous fumes are directed at predators such as wolf spiders, they save the caterpillar from attack and become someone's tidbit.

4 Hawaiian Carnivorous Caterpillars

Carnivorous caterpillars live in the Hawaiian Islands, which lie in their shelters all day long and wait for an unsuspecting victim to treat themselves to its meat. For example, caterpillars of the species Hyposmocoma molluscivora will not eat plant foods, even when they are dying of hunger. This small larva grows to only 8 millimeters in length, but despite its tiny size, it manages to eat whole snakes alive, attacking them from its secluded ambush. So that the snake does not escape its fate, Hyposmocoma molluscivora chains its prey to the leaves with a silk thread, just like spiders spinning a real cocoon of cobwebs around small insects. Then the caterpillar climbs into a silk trap with a captive snake and slowly eats the victim right alive, leaving only an empty snake shell as a result.

Hyposmocoma molluscivora is the only snake-eating caterpillar, but its uniqueness doesn't end there. It turns out that this larva is so far the only full-fledged amphibian known of its kind. She is able to survive both on land and under water, although researchers still do not understand exactly how she manages to breathe in the aquatic environment. Daniel Rubinoff, professor at the University of Hawaii, believes that this caterpillar has a special respiratory organ that scientists have not yet noticed, or that it breathes through skin pores adapted to process oxygen underwater.

Another species of carnivorous caterpillar lives in Hawaii, and these are the larvae of flower moths (Eupithecia), looking just like a small clawed hand, waiting for its chance to pounce on an unsuspecting victim. These masters of camouflage stretch their bodies along the leaves, pretending to be harmless stems, and freeze before the unfortunate victim approaches them. But when its turn comes, in the blink of an eye, the flower moth closes its body and grabs the surprised prey with its clawed legs.

These are just 2 examples of as many as 18 species of carnivorous caterpillars that live in the Hawaiian Islands. wildlife in this region is truly amazing!

3. Caterpillars-lords and slave owners

The caterpillar of the Japanese blue butterfly Arhopala amantes has an incredible and almost sinister security system against spiders, wasps and other predatory insects from its range. These larvae have learned to take innocent ants into real slavery, forcing them to become their militant bodyguards. They do this with the help of a chemical that the caterpillars secrete in the form of sugar droplets through their skin onto the surface of the grass. Ants are attracted by the sweet smell of this liquid, and once they taste it, they never return to their native anthill, forget about food and do not dare to leave their new mistress, the sinister caterpillar master Arhopala amantes.

The larva of this butterfly has even learned to give attack orders - when it unfolds its small antennae, its subordinate ants become especially aggressive and attack any insect approaching them. Professor of Kobe University (Kobe University, Japan), Masuru Hojo (Masuru Hojo), believes that the glandular cells in the area of the antennae of the caterpillar secrete a special chemical, which is perceived by enslaved ants as a signal to attack strangers. “It is possible that both visual and chemical signals stimulate ant aggression,” Hojo suggests. Ants that have not tasted the caterpillar's sweet secretions do not react in any way to the waving of its antennae. The Japanese professor is inclined to believe that the power of the larvae of the Arhopala amantes species depends entirely on their secret chemical weapons, with which they manipulate the ants who have tasted their "potion".

2. Floating entrails and soft-bodied robots

You must have noticed how unusual caterpillars move. In motion, they resemble tiny waves. However, what happens inside them during this bizarre crawl deserves a separate discussion. Did you know, for example, that the offal of a larva is one step ahead of the rest of its body parts? Biologists at Tufts University of Arts and Sciences came to this conclusion when they took x-rays of the tobacco hawk caterpillar to better understand how they move.

Taking an X-ray of a crawling caterpillar is a rather difficult task, if only because these creatures do not have bones. That's why biologist Michael Simon and his team placed the test specimens on a tiny homemade caterpillar treadmill and illuminated their insides with a special particle accelerator from the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois. The researchers found that the internal organs of the caterpillar move independently of its outer shell and even outstrip its limbs. “The movement of internal tissues caused by general locomotion (scientific term, movement from place to place) is noted in many organisms, but it seems that caterpillars move using a two-part system that includes an outer shell and enclosed insides. This mechanism explains the amazing freedom of movement of these soft-bodied sliders, ”says Michael Simon, the first author of a study on this topic, who published his work in the British scientific journal Current Biology. The unique form of caterpillar locomotion was called "visceral locomotive pistoning" (visceral or internal locomotive piston).

It may seem strange to you why it was so important for scientists to know what happens to the insides of butterfly larvae as they move from place to place. It turns out that research on the crawling mechanism of caterpillars can be very useful for the development of soft-body robots, which can later become very popular in the transport industry. In July 2010, Professor Simon explained to LiveScience that "one of the main advantages of a soft-shell robot is its ability to move delicate loads such as electronic devices, fragile instruments and chemicals." A rigid-framed robot has a hard shell, while a soft-bodied transport vehicle can be deformed in all directions without damaging its contents.

Referring to the research of his team, which studied the amazing propulsion system of caterpillars, Michael Simon reminded us all that "the world is still full of opportunities for new discoveries, even in the most simple and mundane things and places."

1. Caterpillar Soup and Imaginal Discs

We all know that caterpillars weave cocoons to protect their chrysalis from the outside world while it goes through the miraculous process of becoming a butterfly or moth. The pupa is essentially a hardened shell, inside which the caterpillar is preparing for the most important changes in its life. Initially, this shell grows right under the top layer of the skin of the larva. When this outer skin falls off, a chrysalis (chrysalis) is born. At first, this chrysalis is quite soft to the touch, but then it hardens to protect the larva while it is in the process of pupation. And from this moment the most interesting and unusual begins: once in a fairly solid protective cocoon, the caterpillar secretes special digestive enzymes that destroy its body to the state of a real soup. The larva literally dissolves and digests itself, but some of its vital tissues remain intact. They are called imaginal disks.

What is it all about, you ask? To answer this question, we will have to go back to the very beginning - to the time when the caterpillar was still a small egg. As it develops, the unhatched larva grows special clusters of cells inside its body (those same imaginal discs). Each such disk represents a different part of the body, into which it will eventually turn when the caterpillar becomes a butterfly or a moth. Each wing, eye, antennae and leg has its own imaginal disk.

When the pupated caterpillar has digested and turned most of its body into a liquid organ soup, leaving only its imaginal disks floating in this mixture, these cell clusters use the liquid environment around them as fuel to quickly form the organs of the future adult butterfly or moth. The whole process of transformation from the stage of egg, larva to the appearance of an adult is called holometabolism.

It would seem, after all that has been described, what even more extraordinary can happen in the life of these creatures? Recently, however, researchers have found that at least some species of moth retain memories of laboratory experiments in which they took part as caterpillars.

So the evolutionary ecologist Martha Weiss placed the larva of the tobacco hawk moth in a small tube in the shape of the letter "Y". One of the sections of this tube led towards the area smelling of ethyl acetate (strong smell), and the other to clean air. The caterpillars that chose the ethyl acetate-scented move were given an electric shock, after which 78% of them chose to avoid the area with the smell of this chemical in the future. A month later, when the caterpillars turned into adult moths, they were faced with exactly the same choice. 77% of the moles confidently avoided pipes that smelled of ethyl acetate. According to Martha Weiss, this proves that during the most significant restructuring of the organism, which is the transition from the pupa to the stage of an adult insect, these animals somehow retain the parts of the brain responsible for the memories of the caterpillar.

Bonus! Every caterpillar's worst nightmare

Bonus-2! Caterpillar-Trump

This funny bunch of yellow hairs is a caterpillar of a butterfly of the megalopygid family. FROM recently playful researchers who discovered this caterpillar in the Amazonian forests of Peru began to call the shaggy creature "Trumpapillar" (Trumpapillar) for its striking hairstyle with American President Donald Trump. These caterpillars actually come in quite a variety of colors, including white, pink, and red.

The hairs covering the body of the larva are very similar in their properties to the fur of a tarantula. In addition, they are covered with tiny venomous spines, contact with which causes an excruciating rash. This self-defense mechanism has been so effective that it can even serve as a clear example of Batesian mimicry in the case of the chicks of the Amazonian bird, the gray aulia. Her babies look almost exactly like this toxic caterpillar, which serves them well when it comes to camouflage from the carnivorous inhabitants of the Amazon.

When aulia chicks feel danger, they even begin to move, like megalopygid larvae, so that the predator (local snakes and monkeys) is afraid of an unwanted collision with a poisonous trampapillar larva.

A caterpillar is a larva of a butterfly, moth or moth - insects from the Lepidoptera order.

Caterpillar - description, characteristics, structure and photo. What does a caterpillar look like?

torso

The length of the caterpillar, in accordance with the variety, varies from a few millimeters to 12 cm, as in individual specimens of the Saturnia butterfly (peacock-eye).

The body of the caterpillar consists of a well-defined head, thoracic, abdominal sections and several pairs of limbs located on the chest and abdomen.

Head

The round head shape is typical for most caterpillars, although there are exceptions. For example, many have a triangle-shaped head, while other species have a rectangular-shaped head.

The parietal parts can strongly protrude above the head, forming a kind of “horns”. Small antennae, consisting of 3 consecutive joints, grow on the sides of the head.

oral apparatus

Eyes

torso

The respiratory organ of insects, the spiracle, is a stigma located on the chest. Only in species living in water, spiracles are replaced by tracheal gills.

Paws of the caterpillar

Outgrowths consist of relief skin formations-tubercles, similar to flat, round or oval warts and spines. Caterpillar hairs are represented by thin individual threads or bundles.

Caterpillar development

Depending on the species, the caterpillar can develop from several weeks to several years. Caterpillars of northern species of butterflies do not have time to complete their development cycle in one season, so they hibernate (diapause) until next summer.

For example, a butterfly butterfly living in the Arctic Circle can stay in the caterpillar stage up to 12-14 years.

Throughout its development cycle, the caterpillar undergoes not only significant age-related changes size and color of the body, but also striking metamorphoses.

For example, the transformation of an almost naked caterpillar into a furry one or vice versa.

At the end of the development cycle, the caterpillar turns into a chrysalis, from which a butterfly then emerges.

caterpillars molt

Each caterpillar molts several times over the entire period of existence. Miner caterpillars are subject to the least number of molts (2 times). The standard number of molts is 4, although some species molt 5 or 7 times. Unfavorable environmental conditions cause a sharp increase in the number of molts, for example, a clothes moth caterpillar can molt from 4 to 40 times. It has also been observed that females shed more than males.

The caterpillar secretes sweet nectar which the ant drinks.

Types of caterpillars - photos and names

Among the great variety of different caterpillars, the following varieties are of greatest interest:

cabbage caterpillar or cabbage butterfly caterpillar (cabbage white) (Pieris brassicae)

lives throughout Eastern Europe, northern Africa to the Japanese islands, and also introduced to South America. The caterpillar is 3.5 cm long, has 16 legs and is distinguished by a light green body covered with black warts and short black hairs. Depending on the weather, the caterpillar stage lasts from 13 to 38 days. These caterpillars feed on cabbage, horseradish, radish, turnip, turnip, and shepherd's purse. They are considered the main pest of cabbage.

Caterpillar moth (surveyors) (Geometridae)

characterized by a long thin body and undeveloped abdominal legs, due to which it differs in an original way of movement - it bends in a loop, while pulling the abdominal legs to the chest ones. The family unites more than 23 thousand species of moths distributed throughout the world. All types of caterpillars of this family have well-developed muscles, therefore they are able to strengthen themselves vertically on plants, perfectly imitating broken branches and petioles. The color of the caterpillars is similar to the color of the foliage or bark, which is additionally an excellent camouflage. They eat tree needles and hazel.

(Cerura vinula = Dicranura vinula)

lives throughout Europe, Central Asia and northern Africa. Adult caterpillars grow up to 6 cm and are distinguished by a green body with a purple rhombus on the back, bordered by a white outline. In case of danger, the caterpillar inflates, assumes a threatening posture and sprays out a caustic substance. In the caterpillar stage, the insect stays from the beginning of summer to September, feeds on the leaves of plants from the willow and poplar families, including common aspen.

Redtail Caterpillar (Calliteara pudibunda)

found in the forest-steppe zone throughout Eurasia, as well as in Asia Minor and Central Asia. The caterpillar up to 5 cm long is pinkish, brown or gray. The body is densely covered with individual hairs or tufts of hairs, at the end there is a tail of protruding crimson hairs. This is a poisonous caterpillar: when in contact with human skin, it causes a painful allergy. These caterpillars eat the foliage of various trees and shrubs, especially preferring hops.

Silkworm caterpillar(bombyx mori) or silkworm

Lives in East Asia: in the north of China and in Russia, in the southern regions of Primorye. The length of the caterpillar is 6-7 cm, its wavy body is densely covered with blue and brown hairy warts. After 4 molts, completing the 32-day development cycle, the color of the caterpillar turns yellow. The food of the silkworm caterpillar is exclusively mulberry leaves. This insect has been actively used in sericulture since the 27th century BC. e.

Corrosive tree caterpillar(Zeuzera pyrina)

from the woodworm family. It is found on the territory of all European countries, except for the Far North, as well as in South Africa, Southeast Asia and North America. Winters twice, during which time it changes color from yellow-pink to yellow-orange with black, glossy warts. The length of the insect is 5-6 cm. Caterpillars live inside the branches and trunks of various trees, feeding on their juices.

Swallowtail caterpillar(papilio machaon)

lives throughout Europe, Asia, northern Africa and North America. One of the most colorful caterpillars: at first black, with scarlet warts, and as it grows, it becomes green with black transverse stripes. Each strip contains 6-8 red-orange spots. A disturbed caterpillar secretes an odorous orange-yellow liquid. It feeds on celery, wormwood, parsley, and sometimes alder leaves.

The smallest caterpillar in the world is a member of the moth family.

For example, clothes moth caterpillars ( Tineola bisselliella), just emerging from the egg, reach a length of only 1 mm.

The biggest caterpillar in the world- this is the caterpillar of the peacock-eye atlas ( Attacus atlas).

The bluish-green caterpillar, as if powdered with white dust, grows up to 12 cm in length.

The class of insects is one of the most diverse and numerous representatives of living creatures inhabiting Earth. The most beautiful representatives of the family are butterflies, which differ from each other in the most diverse and intricate patterns located on their wings. Caterpillars are an essential natural target for the formation of butterflies. They also come in a variety of shapes and colors.

The appearance of a butterfly is associated with a certain stage of insect development. After an adult has laid eggs in some secluded place, larvae appear from them, in the form of small worms. These worms are quite voracious creatures. They eat a lot of greens in order to move to another stage of development.

These larvae are called caterpillars. An insect can be a caterpillar for either a few days or a few years, depending on the species. As a rule, each species of caterpillars eats a certain type of plant. Often they become pests of any crops, fruit trees, berries, vegetables, fruits, etc. After a certain time, the caterpillar turns into a cocoon, which is called a chrysalis. Then an adult emerges from the cocoon, which is called a butterfly.

Interesting to know! The bigger the butterfly, the bigger the caterpillar and vice versa.

All types of caterpillars may differ in their size, development periods, colors, habitats, but they all have the same body structure. The body structure of a caterpillar consists of:

From a well-defined head of a regular rounded shape, mouth apparatus, organs of vision and horn-shaped antennae.
Breasts.
Abdominal.
Several pairs of limbs.

As a rule, the caterpillar has at least 5-6 pairs of eyes located side by side. In the mouth there are several small teeth with which they gnaw on plants. On the body there are small hairs or outgrowths that look like spikes. As a rule, the caterpillar quickly moves on leaves, branches and other surfaces.

Types of caterpillars with photos and names

Each type of butterfly has its own caterpillar. At the same time, the color of the caterpillar does not always correspond to the color of the butterfly. In most cases, caterpillars are herbivores, although predatory species are also found. Depending on the food consumed, the caterpillars are:

Polyphages. These are caterpillars that indiscriminately eat any plants. This species includes moths such as wine hawk hawk, ocellated hawk hawk, blind hawk hawk, kaya bear, moths, peacock-eye and others.
Monophages are caterpillars that feed on one particular type of plant. These are cabbage, apple moth, silkworm and others.
Oligophages- These are caterpillars that prefer to feed on one type of plant belonging to one species of a family or type. These are butterflies swallowtail, pine scoop, polyxena, etc.
Xylophages refers to a species of caterpillars that feed on wood or bark. These include leafworms, woodworms and others.

Some species of caterpillars inhabit subtropical regions, the tropics, as well as the northern regions. On the territory of each country there are hundreds of species of such insects. Caterpillars don't get their names by accident. As a rule, they get their names depending on the main source of food. Part of the caterpillars was named so because on the wings they have a very interesting and intricate pattern.

Among all types of caterpillars, there are also valuable ones, for example, such as silkworms. Many caterpillars have this property. In the process of its movement, a thin thread remains behind the caterpillar. This thread serves as a kind of insurance in the event of an insect falling.

Interesting to know! A silk thread is obtained from the cocoon of a silkworm butterfly, after which a silk cloth is woven from it, and then various products are sewn.

There are caterpillars up to 1 mm in size, as well as caterpillars more than 12 cm long. Among them there are quite beautiful specimens, completely nondescript, furry, poisonous, and also those that can change their color during their development.

The following species are widespread in Russia:

Cabbage white (cabbage).
Peacock-eye.
Moth (surveyor).
Hawk hawk.
Admiral.

This is the most common type of caterpillars inhabiting the European part of Russia. The caterpillar is different in green and body length within 3-4 cm. On the body of the caterpillar there are black growths and hairs. She got her name due to the fact that she appears mainly on cabbage. In addition to cabbage, he can enjoy crops such as:

Radish.
Turnip.
Turnip.
Horseradish, etc.

In the caterpillar stage, the insect can be from 2 to 5 weeks. Depending on the weather conditions. Despite such a short period of time, cabbage manages to cause serious damage to the crop.

This caterpillar is also called a surveyor, because of the original way of movement. This is due to the underdevelopment of the front false legs. Due to its brown color, it manages to reliably camouflage among the vegetation. In addition, thanks to the developed muscular system, the caterpillar can be in an extended stationary state for a long time, depicting a broken branch or knot. This type of caterpillar feeds on tree needles, currant leaves, hazel, etc. The moth butterfly is distinguished by a thin, elongated body and wide, delicate wings. Butterflies fly mostly at night. They can be easily recognized by their slow and uneven flight.

This caterpillar can be found throughout the forest-steppe zone of our mainland. It feeds on the foliage of various shrubs. These are fluffy caterpillars whose body is covered with brown or gray hairs. The end of the body is distinguished by a bright scarlet color, which served as the basis for such a name.

Interesting to know! The bright red tail of the insect indicates that the caterpillar is poisonous. Contact with the human body may cause an allergic reaction.

Butterfly years are celebrated in May-June. The redtail is quite prolific, as one female is able to lay up to 1000 eggs per tree. With the advent of autumn, all the caterpillars leave the tree and the pupation process begins.

Redtail is considered a pest of fruit trees such as apple, plum, mountain ash, pedunculate oak, hornbeam, elm, etc.

Differs in rather large sizes. The caterpillar is distributed almost throughout Europe, Asia, North America, as well as in the north of the African continent. The caterpillar is quite beautiful, like the butterfly itself. At the same time, at its stage of development, the caterpillar changes its color. At first, the caterpillar is almost black with bright red spikes. Over time, it turns green with black stripes, interspersed with brown spots. This caterpillar can eat:

Carrot.
Petrushka.
Celery.
polynya.
Alder.

The hawk caterpillar can be found both in central Russia, and in Siberia and on Far East. Prefers to eat leaves of birch, willow, poplar. The caterpillar has a green body color, which allows it to perfectly camouflage among the leaves. The body is painted with diagonal thin stripes, which resembles the veins of leaves. On the tail of this caterpillar you can see a kind of horn.

This is a rather beautiful butterfly, which is relatively large: its length reaches 10 cm, or even more. There are 2 types of these butterflies: the daytime peacock eye and the nocturnal peacock eye. In addition, there is also a large peacock butterfly, which has minor differences from the first two species. The butterfly caterpillar is also large and green in color. The peacock eye lives in the western part of Russia, in the Caucasus and in the Crimea. Prefers to eat such fruit trees:

Apple tree.
pear.
Walnut.
Plum.
cherry.

Interesting to know! In the process of development, the peacock eye butterfly larva changes its color. Before pupation begins, it turns yellow, and the pupa itself is distinguished by a brown tint.