One of the greatest natural miracles is the transformation of a fat and clumsy caterpillar into a butterfly. Moreover, the butterfly is not always more beautiful than its larva - some caterpillars are so unusual, brightly colored and have a bizarre shape that the butterfly, especially if it is nocturnal, looks like an ugly duckling next to it.

This review contains magnificent photos illustrating what caterpillars of some species look like and what kind of butterfly they turn into. There are also some Interesting Facts about these incomparable creatures of nature.

1. Brahmin Moth

Brahmei butterflies are found in the East - in India, China, Burma, and are also common on some islands of Japan.

This is a nocturnal species of butterfly; they fly at night and sleep during the day with their wings spread. Butterflies and caterpillars are poisonous, so they have no enemies.

2. Peacock eye cecropia (Hyalophora cecropia)

The caterpillar is very poisonous, so with all its bright color it shows that it is better not to touch it. The tubercles have a rich color and additionally have dots, like those of poisonous ladybugs.

The peacock eye is the largest moth America - size larger than palm.

3. Spicebush Swallowtail

At first glance, this creature looks more like a fish or lizard than a caterpillar. Huge false eyes scare away predators. In addition, during its life of a couple of months, the larva changes color - the egg hatches chocolate brown with large white spots, then becomes bright emerald, and before pupation - orange with a red belly.

The black-blue velvet butterfly is common in North America; in some places it gathers in colonies of hundreds of thousands of specimens.

4. Black Swallowtail

The caterpillar of the black swallowtail is very bright and noticeable - so that predators do not covet it. Although in fact it is quite edible.

This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful European butterflies. During the flight, you can see how the color of the wings of the black swallowtail shimmers.

5. Tailed Emperor Butterfly (Polyura Sempronius)

This is not a dinosaur, but a soft imperial caterpillar. Its size is up to 2 cm, and the shell visually enlarges the baby and scares the birds.

The “tailed emperor” is found only in Australia and feeds on nectar from only one plant.

6. Dalcerida (Acraga coa)

The Dalcerida caterpillar appears glassy and transparent.

At the same time, the butterfly itself is very shaggy, brick-colored. Refers to moths. Lives in tropical forests Mexico.

7. Moth (Acharia Stimulea)

This strange creature of an incomprehensible color, with a bright green blanket - very dangerous creature. Each shoot secretes poison, and even one touch to the caterpillar can put an adult in the hospital.

And the butterfly is an ordinary night moth, almost invisible.

8. Witch moth caterpillar (Phobetron pithecium)

A real caterpillar witch! Lives in orchards of both American continents. It is also called the “slug monkey” for its unusual method of movement - it crawls along one leaf and jumps onto another leaf.

Witch butterflies are also quite spectacular and large. Lead night look life.

9. Greta Oto, or Glass Winged Butterfly

The caterpillar of the incredible Greta butterfly looks ordinary and does not attract attention.

And here's the most glass butterfly with transparent wings it looks simply amazing. This species lives in Mexico and throughout South America.

10. Large harpy, or spotted forktail (Cerura vinula)

Both the caterpillar and the harpy butterfly itself have a rather terrifying appearance. The growth in the form of a mustache confuses the birds, and they do not risk feasting on this completely edible larva.

The white moth from the Corydalis family is quite large and makes bad smell, so few people will dare to try it.

11. Flannel Moth

This is not a tuft of fur on a bush, but the larva of a flannel moth. Very poisonous creature!!! Under no circumstances should you touch it!

Adult flannel moths appear soft and cuddly, but they are also poisonous. Found in the USA and Mexico.

12. Blue Morpho

Here is such a strange furry stick, which has no clear where the head is and where the tail is, after transformation it will become one of the most beautiful butterflies in the world.

The blue Morpho butterfly lives in Central and South America. It is very large - reaches 210 mm in span. The wings have a metallic tint and shimmer when flying. There are 60 varieties of Morpho in all shades of blue.

13. Slug worm (Isochaetes beutenmuelleri)

This gorgeous caterpillar looks like an ornate ice crystal covered with numerous needles. The sight of it seems completely unappetizing to the birds!

And the adult butterfly is an ordinary night woodlice. Distributed throughout North America.

14. Silkmoth (Hubbard's Small Silkmoth)

This is exactly the famous caterpillar that makes silk thread, and people from it - wonderful fabric. These larvae eat only mulberry or mulberry leaves.

Butterfly silkworm leads a nocturnal lifestyle.

15. Slug Butterfly (Isa Textula)

The leaf-shaped caterpillar stings with its hairs. She moves very interestingly - in zigzags, leaving noticeable traces.

The butterfly is also quite spectacular, 3-4 times smaller than a caterpillar and flies only at night.

16. Rainbow Blue Swallowtail Butterfly

The rainbow swallowtail caterpillar is a very impressive creature, looking like a horned bull.

Very beautiful and bright large butterfly lives in only one place on Earth - in the Ussuri taiga.

17. Spotted Apatelodes

This one is simply amazing furry caterpillar extremely poisonous. By the way, her head is where there is one “feather”!

The spotted apatelodes moth is very large and buzzes loudly when it flies.

18. Saturnia Io (Automeris io)

Incredible bright green caterpillar with pompoms. Distributed in Canada and the USA. Very poisonous. The Indians used it to lubricate their arrows.

The colorful moth is also quite impressive, especially at night when those “eyes” glow.

19. Butterfly from the peacock-eye family (Attacus Atlas)

This furry miracle is a very rare larva. And all because people caught both them and butterflies en masse for sale.

The size of peacock eyes is impressive - up to 25 cm! The price of a copy reaches a thousand dollars. The atlas peacock eye is found in Southeast Asia, China, and Indonesia. The largest specimen with a wingspan of almost 27 cm was caught on the island. Java in 1922. This butterfly has no mouth and does not eat anything its entire life.

Caterpillars can be great, easy-to-care pets for all adults and children. Other than being given enough food, caterpillars don't require much. The best part is watching these creatures cocoon themselves or become chrysalises and then magically transform into butterflies or moths a few days or weeks later. What could be better than this? Read on to learn how to properly care for a caterpillar and transform it into a butterfly.

Steps

Where to find caterpillars

Select right time of the year. The most better time for hunting caterpillars it is spring and summer, since most butterflies lay eggs at this time. However, some individuals (in particular, hairy caterpillars) appear in the fall. Winter is the only time of year when it is impossible to find caterpillars.

• IN wildlife caterpillar survival rate is about 2%; this means that out of every hundred eggs a butterfly lays, it will live to adult only two. This is due to large number predators whose food is caterpillars. Thus, by taking a caterpillar as a pet, you give it a much greater chance of survival.
• Be aware that fall caterpillars are more likely to remain chrysalised all winter, so you will have to wait much longer for the butterfly to emerge than with spring or summer caterpillars, where the wait is 2-3 weeks.

1. Look for caterpillars on plants. The best place The caterpillars' favorite plants to look for are their favorite plants, since caterpillars usually stay close to their food source. If you are not picky about the type of caterpillar you want to care for, you can check the leaves of any plant in your garden or park. However, if you are looking for specific caterpillars/butterflies/moths, then you will have to target specific plant species. Here are some of the most common:

   Order specific types of caterpillars online. If you need a special type of caterpillar/butterfly and cannot find it yourself, then there is always the option of ordering from a specialized supplier via the Internet.

   Handle the caterpillars carefully. When you find a caterpillar, it is very important to handle it correctly. If you try to pick up the caterpillar, it can get caught with great force on the surface it is on, and if you pull, you can cause damage to the caterpillar or even tear off its legs.

   Where and how to place caterpillars

   1. Keep your caterpillar in a suitable container. Caterpillars don't need anything fancy to house them in - a 5 liter jar or aquarium is ideal. The jar or aquarium is easy to clean, and the caterpillar will be clearly visible through the walls.

      • Cover the container with gauze or mesh and secure with a rubber band to ensure proper ventilation. Do not poke holes in the screw top of the jar, as some sites advise, as the caterpillars may attempt to escape through these holes and injure themselves on the sharp edges.
      • If you are placing more than one track, make sure each one has three times the space larger size her body so that she can move calmly. This way you will avoid overcrowding.

   2. Place on the bottom of the container paper towel or fill up with soil. It is a good idea to line the bottom of the container with paper, as it will absorb excess moisture and also collect caterpillar excrement. You can easily clean the track container by discarding one piece of paper and laying down another.

      Place a couple of sticks in the container. This is a good idea for a number of reasons:

      • First, the caterpillars will have something to climb on, which they may need to do to get to their food.
      • Secondly, the caterpillar may want to pupate while hanging from a branch. That is, you must check that the stick is held securely and will not fall.
      • Thirdly, when a butterfly hatches from a pupa, it needs to hang upside down on something to spread and dry its wings.

   3. Keep the container moist. Most caterpillars prefer somewhat damp environment. The best way To achieve this, periodically spray the container with a spray bottle.

   How to feed caterpillars

   Find a food plant for the caterpillar. A caterpillar's job is to eat, eat, eat, so the most important part of caring for a caterpillar is to provide it with a constant source of fresh food.

   • The first thing you should do is give the caterpillar some leaves from the plant or tree where you found it, as there is a chance that this was its food plant.
   • Watch the caterpillar closely to see if it is eating the leaves you give it. If yes, then congratulations, you have found its food plant! Now you just need to supply the caterpillar with fresh leaves until it pupates.

   1. If you don't know the food plant, experiment with different types of leaves. Caterpillars are very selective eaters, and each species has a limited number of plants on which they feed. In fact, most caterpillars will starve if given the wrong food. So if your caterpillar refuses the leaves of the plant you found it on, or if you find the caterpillar on something other than a plant, you will have to figure out its food plant through trial and error.

      The leaves must be fresh. Caterpillars will not eat old or dried leaves, so it is important to provide them with fresh green leaves at all times. The frequency of providing leaves will depend on the plant, some may last a week, others need to be renewed daily.

   2. Don't worry about giving the caterpillar water. Caterpillars do not need to drink; they get all the water they need from food.

      • However, if the caterpillar looks somewhat dried out, you will need to increase the humidity in the container, try rinsing the leaves with water and placing them in the container without drying them out.
      • Drops of water on the leaves will provide the necessary moisture.

Caterpillar

There are many varieties of caterpillars.

The green color of the poplar hawkmoth caterpillar allows it to camouflage perfectly among the green leaves of plants (Fig. 12).

The caterpillar of a butterfly of the bagworm family protects its body with a sheath made from pieces of grass blades (Fig. 13).

Large, with a sharp unpleasant smell caterpillar of the fragrant wood moth (Fig. 14) up to 90 mm long, lives in the wood of willows, aspens, birches, alders and some fruit trees.

There are few viviparous butterflies. In most species, caterpillars emerge from eggs at the appointed time. The larvae of some butterflies, after hatching, eat the egg shell: the substances included in its composition will help them in their further development.

Rice. 12. Poplar hawkmoth caterpillar (Laothoe populi)

Rice. 13. Caterpillar of a butterfly of the bagworm family (Psychidae)

Rice. 14. Caterpillar of the woodworm butterfly (Cossus cossus)

Rice. 15. A young caterpillar of one of the butterflies of the moth family (Geometridae)

Caterpillars usually have five pairs of abdominal legs, but their number can be reduced to two to four pairs (Fig. 15), and in some larvaespecies living on plants are completely absent. By the way, the larvae of sawflies (Tenthredinidae) - insects from the order Hymenoptera - are very similar in appearance to caterpillars, and they can be distinguished by counting the legs. Butterflies have 16 or less of them, together with three pairs of true (thoracic) legs. And in sawfly larvae the number of abdominal legs is six to eight pairs, i.e. only from 18 to 22.

Caterpillars of those butterfly species (Fig. 16-18) that scatter eggs far from food plants will have to travel long distances after hatching in search of food. The wind often helps them with this. Tiny caterpillars climb onto high places(tops of blades of grass, branches of bushes and trees), release a web and, using it as a sail, are sent out into the world by the will of the wind. This promotes the spread of species, although many caterpillars die during such wanderings. However, nature has prudently endowed all types of butterflies that spread by caterpillars with the help of the wind or a largefertility, or polyphagy (i.e., the ability of caterpillars to feed on many types of plants), or the ability of larvae to exist for a long time without food.

Rice. 16. An early age caterpillar of one of the butterflies of the hawkmoth family (Sphingidae)

Rice. 17. Silver hole caterpillar (Phalera bucephala)

Rice. 18. Day butterfly caterpillar peacock eye(Inachisio) before pupation

The caterpillars of some Lepidoptera have mastered and aquatic environment. A number of them breathe in water through the integument of the body, and the spiracles, through which all breathe terrestrial species caterpillars, they are reduced. Larvae of the spiny moth (Paraponux stratiotata), living in caps on aquatic plants, have filamentous tracheal gills. Caterpillars of the genus Shoenobius live inside the leaves of aquatic plants and do not come into direct contact with water. Some types of aquatic caterpillars are covered with thick hairline and breathe the air that remains between the hairs when the caterpillar is immersed in water.

Butterfly caterpillars developing in water feed aquatic plants, which simultaneously serve as food for most caterpillars living on land. At the same time, they not only eat leaves, but can lead an underground lifestyle and feed on roots or be inside the stems of grasses and tree trunks, making long passages in them.

Some caterpillars feed various parts plants. For example, caterpillars of the shamil weed (Phassus schamyl) first feed on half-rotten leaves, and later move on to feeding on the roots of various herbaceous plants.

Some species of caterpillars belonging to the family of moths make passages in the tissues of the leaf, where they eat out a cavity called a mine (English mine - to dig a passage, to dig a mine, for which they are called miner moths.) Characteristic signs Miner moth caterpillars are tiny in size and have a flat body shape.

The larvae of some species of butterflies cause abnormal growth of tissue in plants, the so-called galls. For example, a moth from the genus Coleohora lays eggs in the buds of one type of bindweed. Having completed development, the caterpillar separates the gall with a circular incision and, together with it, sinks to the ground on a cobweb, after which it moves for some time like a snail with its house. Then the caterpillar attaches its gall house to some plant with a web and, having prepared a hole for flight, pupates. Damage caused to plants by caterpillars different types, are very specific, and there are even track identifiers based on the shape of such damage.

In addition to plant foods, butterfly caterpillars can also feed on food of animal origin. Caterpillars of a dozen families of butterflies are characterized by predation. Some species of moths live in bird nests and feed on feather litter there. Moths that have chosen the caves feed on bird droppings and bats. Larvae various types Moths damage fur coats, mohair sweaters and rabbit hats. Caterpillars of the wax moth (Galleria mellonella) feed on beeswax in hives.

The caterpillars of some species of blueberry butterflies (Lycaenidae) are myrmicophilous creatures that live in anthills. The ants do not touch them, apparently because the caterpillars secrete calming odorous substances, as well as a sweet liquid, which the ants happily lick off. In anthills, blueberry caterpillars feed on ant larvae, eggs and pupae. One can only be surprised at such a relationship between the predators of the insect world and their usual victims - butterfly caterpillars.

The ability of some species of caterpillars to camouflage is widely known. For example, many moth caterpillars (family Geometridae) perfectly imitate the branches of plants on which they feed. These caterpillars are also curious because they sharply pull up when moving. back body to the front, and then push the front part, while holding the substrate with the abdominal legs. Moving, they seem to measure length, for which they are called land surveyors in both Russian and Latin. The limbs of caterpillars differ greatly in structure and function.

The caterpillars of the pine hawkmoth (Sphinx pinastri) perfectly camouflage themselves as pine needles. And one of the tropical caterpillars perfectly imitates a snake. More precisely, under the head part of a snake of a certain type, since the entire snake, of course, is longer than the caterpillar.

Many inedible poisonous caterpillars (as well as other poisonous insects) have a bright warning color, the protective role of which is enhanced if the animals are located close to each other. Apparently, this is why many species of caterpillars throughout full cycle developments stick together, forming so-called nests. In caterpillars covered with hairs, when living together, these hairs also create an additional common barrier that prevents attacks by predators. The formation of nests is characteristic of the larvae of a number of cocoon moths (family Lasiocampidae). Caterpillars holding a nest usually weave peculiar tents from their web, which they leave while feeding (usually at night) and then return back. Moving while feeding, each caterpillar separates one web at a time with the help of special glands, and in the end, together they literally weave the entire tree with a web. Closer to autumn, caterpillars of the pine silkworm (Dendrolimus pini) begin to weave a winter tent-nest, in which they spend the winter, gathered in a dense mass.

It is interesting to learn about vision in caterpillars. It is very weak for them; butterfly larvae can only distinguish between light and shadow and do not see the clear outlines of an object. The caterpillar's eye itself is a cluster of colored light-sensitive spots. Such eye spots are not only on the head, they are scattered throughout the body and help the caterpillar to hide from the scorching sun in time or determine that the leaf has already been gnawed and it’s time to crawl to a new one.

Butterfly larvae are important members natural communities. Eating mostly plant foods, they themselves serve as food for many insectivorous animals. Their role in the nutrition of a number of insectivorous birds is very important, which not only eat them themselves, but also collect them in large quantities as food for their chicks.

By the way, the aborigines of Australia eat the caterpillars of cutworm butterflies, and in the markets of the Congo they sell striped caterpillars up to 10 cm long, which are considered a delicacy of African cuisine.

But people can use caterpillars for other purposes. In Australia, the caterpillars of the moth Cactoblastis cactorum are successfully used to control prickly pear. This cactus, brought from Mexico, multiplied in huge quantities and became literally a scourge for local farmers. Chemical treatments did not help. After a long search by scientists, moth caterpillars became a means to restrain the massive growth of prickly pear. Subsequently in Australia near the city of Chinchila. In the small town of Bunarga, a modest building for holding concerts and meetings, Memorial Hall, appeared. His. built in honor of the fire butterfly.

And the mass reproduction of larvae of the malumbia butterfly (Eloria noyesi) in Peru has confused the cards of the local drug mafia. Having multiplied, these caterpillars a short time destroyed more than 20 thousand hectares of illegal coca crops, the plant from which cocaine is obtained. A detailed study of the biology of this butterfly species may open up prospects for the further use of malumbia caterpillars in this field.

During the development process, butterfly caterpillars go through several instars, the differences between which are sometimes so strong (for example, in the larvae of the first, third and last instars of the Aglia tau butterfly from the peacock-eye family, Saturniidae), that they can be mistaken for caterpillars of other species. The transition from one age to another occurs during the process of molting. With each age, sex differences at the caterpillar stage appear more and more clearly.

In most caterpillars, the development cycle completes in one to two months, but in some, for example, in the butterfly of the species Stigmella malella, it is much faster, in just 36 hours. And in some butterflies living in the north, caterpillars, on the contrary, develop for several years. The sizes of butterflies that develop from such caterpillars vary greatly. Butterflies from caterpillars that lived large quantity years old, larger.

More interesting articles

Many of them are ready to do anything to protect themselves and their food from predators.

Their brightness most often indicates toxicity, and the hairs and spines contain a toxic cocktail.

Here are a few beautiful but dangerous caterpillars, from which it is better to stay away.

Caterpillars (photo)

1. Coquette caterpillar (Megalopyge opercularis)

What does a coquette caterpillar look like? like a miniature furry animal. However, as soon as you touch it, an unpleasant surprise awaits you.

Poisonous spines hidden under her "fur" release poison, causing severe throbbing pain , which can radiate into the armpit,five minutes after contact with the caterpillar. Red erymatous spots may appear at the site of contact. Other symptoms include: headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, lymph node damage, sometimes shock or difficulty breathing.

The pain usually subsides after an hour, and the spots disappear after a few days. However, if a large amount of poison is ingested, symptoms can last up to 5 days.

2. Saddle caterpillar (Sibine stimulea)

The hoary caterpillar attracts attention with its bright colors, and believe me, you better stay away from it. Its fleshy horns are covered with hairs that secrete poison.

Touching them will cause pain similar to a bee sting, swelling, nausea and rash which will last for several days.

Types of caterpillars

3. Stinging rose caterpillar (Parasa indetermina)

The "stinging rose" caterpillar reaches a length of only 2.5 cm and is distinguished by its bright colors. But besides its yellow and red spots, what attracts the most attention are its spiny tubercles protruding from different sides.

The tips on these tubercles, as one might guess, release poison. If you touch one of them, the ends will break off and you will have skin irritation.

4. Spiny oak slug caterpillar ( Euclea delphinii)

This caterpillar is not that dangerous to people, although touching it will still cause rash. This is due to the spiny tubercles located on the back and sides.

As a rule, these caterpillars live on oaks, willows, as well as beech, cherry, maple and other deciduous trees.

5. Caterpillar of the black bear (Tyria jacobaeae)

Some caterpillars become toxic through the plants they eat. And this applies to the caterpillars of the mole bear, which feed on poisonous ragwort.

They eat so much of this plant that in New Zealand, Australia and North America they are used to control the growth of ragwort. This plant is deadly to cattle and horses, but pose a certain health threat to people.

If you are sensitive to caterpillar hairs, touching them may cause urticaria, atopic bronchial asthma, renal failure and cerebral hemorrhage.

Caterpillars crawl (video)

6. Caterpillars of the marching silkworm (Thaumetopoea pityocampa)

Traveling silkworm caterpillars live in groups in large silken nests high on pine trees.

They follow each other from the nest to the pine needles in search of food. And as you may have guessed, contact with them is dangerous. They are covered with thousands of tiny harpoon-shaped hairs that, when touched, cause severe irritation skin.

7. Bag caterpillar (Ochrogaster lunifer)

Just like the caterpillars of the traveling silkworm, these representatives live in groups in a silk bag, emerging at night and following each other in search of food. However, the danger from them is greater.

In South America they pose a health risk. The poison that is found in their bristles is powerful anticoagulant. This means that if you accidentally touch them, you risk bleeding from a small cut or internal bleeding.

8. Saturnia io caterpillar (Automeris io)

This caterpillar is native to Canada and the United States, and although it looks like an adorable little thing with green spiked pom-poms, remember that they are for viewing only.

No matter how tiny their spines may seem, the poison they contain can cause painful itching and even dermatitis.

9. Witch moth caterpillar (Phobetron pithecium)

If you thought the coquette caterpillar looked rather unusual, admire this furry creature. The witch moth caterpillar, also called the slug monkey, is often found in orchards.

People vary in their susceptibility to these caterpillars and in some they cause unpleasant symptoms, including itching and rash.

10. Hickory Bear Caterpillar (Lophocampa caryae)

It seems as if these caterpillars are dressed in winter fur coats. Most of the hairs covering their body are fairly harmless, but they do have four long black hairs on the front and back that should be avoided.

Touching them leads to rash and more serious problems with health, in case of hairs getting into the eyes. Moreover, they are still bite.

Poisonous caterpillars

11. Lazy clown caterpillar (Lonomia obliqua)

This peacock butterfly caterpillar can safely be called a killer caterpillar. Its thorns are filled with coagulant poison - anticoagulant, which can lead to human death.

Light touching of these caterpillars can lead to headache, fever, vomiting and if left untreated, internal bleeding, renal failure and hemolysis.

Their venom is so powerful that scientists are studying it in hopes of developing a drug that prevents blood clots.

12. White cedar moth caterpillar (leptocneria reducta)

This caterpillar already inspires fear with its appearance. The hairs of this tiny crawling "cactus" can cause allergic reaction itching in some people.

In addition, the caterpillars themselves live in large groups, swarming the tree at the same time, eating every single leaf before moving on.

13. Saturnia Mayan caterpillar ( Hemileuca maia)

One look at this caterpillar should discourage you from touching it. It is covered with hollow spines attached to a poison sac, and touching it will not only cause itching and burning, but will also lead to nausea.

They live mainly on oaks and willows from spring to mid-summer.

14. Volyanka caterpillar ( Orgyia leucostigma)

This caterpillar is easy to spot because of its red head, black back, and yellow stripes on its sides. Besides the fact that this caterpillar stings unpleasantly, it is considered a tree pest, eating everything woody in its path.

But try to remove it from the power source, and you will be in trouble.

15. Carnivorous caterpillars

Although these caterpillars won't kill you, they do eat other insects, which is quite unusual for the common vegetarian menu caterpillars

And remember, if a caterpillar has spines or hairs, it is better not to touch it, as, most likely, it may be poisonous!

Any caterpillar is the larva of an insect belonging to the order Lepidoptera, that is, butterflies, moths, and moths. By appearance they look like worms different sizes and flowers covered with fluffy hairs or bare. Let's look at what caterpillars eat, what kind of life they lead, and other interesting facts about them.

Appearance and anatomy of an insect

They are not an independent group of numerous fauna representatives. These are larvae of representatives of the order Lepidoptera. Answering the question whether a caterpillar is an insect or not, we can unequivocally answer that yes, because this is a certain, that is, the larval stage of its development. Butterflies are distributed almost throughout the planet, especially in places where flowering vegetation grows. It is very rare to find insects in cold latitudes, as well as deserts and lifeless highlands. Not too many butterflies live in temperate climate zones.

On a note!

The most a large number of lepidoptera are found in hot tropical zones, where the most favorable conditions for their life are. Several hundred varieties of caterpillars are common in Russia.

The biology of the caterpillar is complex and diverse. To determine the type of insect, first of all you need to pay attention to its color, body size, number of limbs, feeding habits, as well as others. specific features. Depending on the variety, the length of the pest ranges from a few mm to 12 cm. The body of the insect includes: a head, 3 thoracic and 10 abdominal parts with paws located on them.

The caterpillar's head consists of 6 parts fused together, resulting in a dense capsule.

• The area between the eyes and forehead is conventionally called the cheeks. In its lower part there is a hole, which in its configuration is similar to a heart.
• For most insects, a round shape is typical. However, some varieties have triangular, rectangular or heart-shaped heads.
• Caterpillars, like other insect larvae, have a primitive brain. The parietal regions can protrude significantly above the surface of the body, forming a kind of “horns”.
• On the lateral surfaces of the organ there are miniature antennae.
• Looking at the structure of the caterpillar, it is clear that all insects are distinguished by gnawing oral apparatus. They have well-developed upper jaws, which are equipped with teeth that allow them to gnaw and tear food. Inside oral cavity there are tubercles with which insects chew food. The salivary glands are a specific spinning machine that allows the silkworm to form a thread. The lower jaws and lip are fused into a single complex.

The insect larva has 5-6 pairs of eyes and one lens. They are arranged in an arcuate manner or are combined into one complex organ consisting of five simple eyes. The first one is inside the arc.

The body of most species is soft, enclosed in a membranous covering. This provides the insect with good mobility. Fauna lovers are quite often interested in the following question: how many muscles does a caterpillar have? Biologists claim that the larval muscular corset has 4,000 muscles, of which 250 are located in the head. The anus is located on the last part of the body, surrounded by special blades. The caterpillar (except for waterfowl) has one spiracle located on the chest.

On a note!

Many people are interested in how many legs a caterpillar has. Most representatives of the order Lepidoptera have 3 pairs of well-developed thoracic legs and 5 pairs of false abdominal limbs ending in small hooks. They can be placed in longitudinal, transverse rows or in the shape of a circle. The pectoral legs of the caterpillar are equipped with a sole with a claw, which the insect retracts or protrudes during movement.

Her body is almost never completely naked. It always has growths such as specific outgrowths, hairs, cuticles, which are formations in the form of cones or granules. The hairs on the body of an insect are arranged in a special way, corresponding to the genus or species of the larva.

Caterpillars have defense mechanisms in the form of easily detachable hairs that irritate the skin. There are those that secrete a burning liquid or accumulate poison in the body.

Life cycle

In its development: egg, caterpillar, pupa, butterfly. After mating, female insects lay eggs, which can develop from several days to months. The length of the period depends on temperature conditions. The caterpillar easily gnaws through the shell of the egg. In case of unfavorable weather conditions The larva overwinters in the egg and only when spring comes does it emerge. Hungry caterpillars often eat the remains of their “shelter.”

How long do caterpillars live is a question that can be found quite often on the Internet. The duration of this phase of insect development depends on the species and can last several days or years. This is due to the fact that northern butterflies hibernate without completing their development cycle.

Interesting!

The moth butterfly, which lives in harsh northern regions, can remain in the caterpillar stage for about 14 years.

The caterpillar has several phases of development. They are characterized not only by changes in the color and size of the insect, but also by certain structural features. During its life, an insect undergoes a certain number of moults, which depend on its membership in a particular biological species. Usually the larva molts 4 times, in representatives individual species this number can vary from 5 to 7. If unfavorable external conditions the growth period of the insect is prolonged, and the number of molts increases.

On a note!

The clothes caterpillar can molt 4 or 40 times.

Before this process begins, they stop feeding, become motionless and hide in secluded places. Skin covering their head stretches and seems to shrink in size. Having shed the old shell, the caterpillar can eat it. Having gone through all stages of molting, insects move on to a new life stage.

Pupation of the caterpillar can occur in inaccessible places or directly on the plant on which the larva fed. Under certain conditions, insects travel considerable distances in search of protected places. Later, a butterfly emerges from the pupa.

How does a caterpillar live and what does it eat?

For most species of caterpillars, the characteristic habitat is the surface of the earth, but there are individuals that prefer water spaces.

Interesting!

Hawaiian moth larvae are different unique ability exist as in air environment, and under water.

Depending on their preferred living conditions, caterpillars are divided into 2 categories - those leading a hidden and free lifestyle. In accordance with this classification, it is easy to determine where certain insect larvae live. Those leading a hidden existence include the following representatives of caterpillars: leafworms, underground ones, miners, etc.

Representatives of the second group live freely on the vegetation they destroy. This is how green caterpillars eat plants, and camouflage coloring allows them to hide from external enemies.

Their diet, depending on whether they belong to a particular species, is quite varied. The hatched larva first eats the shell of the egg, and then moves on to its usual diet. Caterpillars feed on leaves, flowers and fruits of plants. However, in nature there are insects that prefer other types of food. In accordance with this feature, the larvae are divided into the following 4 groups:

• polyphagous - feed on any vegetation;
• oligophages - prefer plants of a certain type;
• monophagous - eat a strictly defined type of plant;
• xylophages - consume only wood.

There are other varieties of caterpillars, but they are not numerous.

For humans, the caterpillar is primarily a pest that causes huge damage cultural green spaces. However, it plays a huge role in silk production. Insects found wide application in Chinese folk medicine. Insect larvae of a certain species are also used to control weeds.

Interesting!

In China, India, countries North America, Africa and other places where caterpillars are eaten, they are considered a recognized delicacy and are more expensive than meat. Protein-rich insect larvae are eaten raw, fried, candied and canned.

The larvae have many natural enemies in nature. Birds pose the greatest danger to them. Thus, the blue tit, which eats caterpillars and uses them to feed its chicks, can destroy up to 30 thousand insect larvae in a season. Wasps feed their offspring with chewed caterpillars or, paralyzing them with poison, store them for future use. At the same time, if all the larvae remained alive, then after about 7 years, only the offspring of one butterfly would exceed the mass of everything globe.