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The caterpillar is black with yellow stripes. Black always goes with white - a rule that even nature follows

This article describes the most interesting types of caterpillars.

A caterpillar is a larva of an insect from the order Lepidoptera. The sizes of caterpillars can vary - from a few millimeters to 15 centimeters. These larvae are even poisonous, and therefore touching some species with your hands is life-threatening. In this article we will look at what types of caterpillars there are - beautiful, unusual, huge, with spikes, with a horn, small, furry and others.

Where do caterpillars live?

Most caterpillars live in the ground. Some of these insects live in bodies of water, while others live both on soil and in water, adapting to existence everywhere. There are two categories of larvae depending on their living conditions: secretive and free-living. The following types of larvae are classified as secretive:

The second variety is caterpillars that live on leaves, which they themselves eat. These are most species of larvae of the largest butterflies.

What do caterpillars eat?

An insect that has just been born eats the top layer of the egg in which it grew. After this, the “worm” proceeds to its main meal. Each type of larvae has its own diet. Most caterpillars eat vegetation: fruits and various green masses. Larvae can be divided into 4 categories depending on their food supply:

Polyphages- all plants are consumed without exception. This species includes, for example, the caterpillars of moths.
Oligophages- prefer to consume specific plants. For example, umbrella bushes.
Monophages- eat only one type of plant. For example, silkworm larvae consume only mulberry leaves.
Xylophagous— the food source of this species is wood.

It is worth noting certain types of caterpillars, which cannot be combined into any category, since there are few of them, but they exist:

Each type of caterpillar has its own diet, and it depends on the category of these larvae, their mode of existence and habitat.

Body structure of a caterpillar: description, photo

Any caterpillar consists of the following body parts:

Head
Breast
Abdomen
Pairs of legs
Spiracle
Mouthparts
Eyes

Such an insect consists of a head, abdomen, chest and several pairs of legs.

Head structure at different types insects can be different - from the most unusual with “horns” to a real imitation of other inhabitants of the Earth, for example, snakes and even fairy dragons.

Larvae head consists of six fused segments that form a hard capsule. In the area between the forehead and eyes, the cheek area is highlighted. At the bottom of the head there is a heart-shaped occipital foramen.

Head Most caterpillars are round, although they can be triangular or rectangular in shape. The parietal part usually protrudes, forming a "horn". Antennae grow on the sides of the head.

Saturnia butterfly caterpillar

Oral apparatus Such insects have well-formed gnawing upper jaws with teeth, thanks to which the “worm” gnaws or tears food tissue. There are tubercles on the inside that help chew food. Saliva is converted into a special spinning secretion.

Larvae eyes is the simplest visual system. The eye of this insect consists of one lens. The eyes are on the head and are located one after another along an arched line. Some insects may have one eye, but it has a complex structure and is fused together from five simple lenses. There may also be another eye located on the inside of the arch. It turns out that almost every caterpillar has 5-6 pairs of eyes.

The body of this insect is well mobile due to the soft tissues of the shell. Consists of separate departments. The anus is closed by lobes with varying degrees of development.

Spiracle The caterpillar represents the stigma, which is located on the chest. In larvae living in water, the respiratory organs are tracheal gills.

Each caterpillar has several pairs of legs, some of them ending in specific hooks. The legs, which are located on the chest, have a sole with a claw. With its help, the insect moves by protruding or retracting its abdomen.

The body of an insect is necessarily covered with hairs, outgrowths or cuticles of various shapes: stars, needles, cones or bristles. Shaggy villi can be located either in the form of individual threads or in the form of tufted clumps on the back or tail. Almost all the fluffy caterpillars are very beautiful and then transform into the most attractive butterflies.

Caterpillar development: description, photo

Caterpillar development

Depending on the species, the butterfly larva can transform into a flying beauty from several weeks to several years. In the northern regions, the warm season does not last long, so the life cycle of the caterpillars can last two years. Some types of larvae live in the caterpillar stage for up to 12-14 years.

During its development, the larva changes in size and appearance. For example, from an ugly and naked larva it turns into fluffy caterpillar. The caterpillar then turns into a pupa, from which it then emerges beautiful butterfly.

Transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly: description, photo

The pupa is usually cylindrical or round in shape. The color of the cylinder is monochromatic - green or light green. It may have a pattern on the surface in the form of stripes, dots or spots. When a butterfly is in the pupa stage, it already has wings, legs and a proboscis.

How do caterpillars reproduce?

The caterpillars themselves are the reproductive stage of butterflies. If we talk about the reproduction of caterpillars that do not turn into butterflies, then such insects lay eggs. Laying occurs on leaves, in tree trunks, in the ground or in reservoirs - depending on the species. The development of the larva in the egg occurs over several weeks. Then a small caterpillar appears.

Huge, thick caterpillars: name, characteristics, what it looks like, what kind of butterfly it turns out to be, description, photo

The largest caterpillar in the world is the peacock eye. This fat, bluish-green caterpillar. When you look at it, you get the impression that its body is dusted with white powder. This larva grows up to 15 centimeters in length. This caterpillar produces a large and beautiful Peacock butterfly. A shaggy brown head and two large circles on the wings that resemble peacock eyes, make the butterfly attractive and memorable.

Royal citheronia (lat. Citheronia regalis)- a caterpillar that grows up to 15 cm in length. Lives in North America. This large caterpillar with brown spikes in the form of horns often crawls out of the thickets and scares tourists with its appearance. It produces a beautiful red butterfly with yellow spots on its wings and a furry body.

Greater Harpy Cerura vinula (Dicranura vinula) — The length of this caterpillar is small compared to previous species - no more than 8 centimeters. But her awesome appearance and its great thickness terrify everyone who sees such an insect. The brown color of the head with black eyes beautifully complements the red rim, wide body with a black stripe and white spiracles - all this attracts attention, but is a little intimidating. The butterfly from this caterpillar turns out to be shaggy with comb-like antennae and a pattern on the wings.

(lat. Cossus cossus) is a huge brown caterpillar with an orange belly. Reaches a size from 8 to 12 centimeters. It digs holes in old wood and feeds on its tissues. The butterfly of this caterpillar is not impressive in its appearance, but it amazes with its huge wingspan - up to 10 cm. Velvety wings with black stripes and “veins”, as well as white spots, resemble the surface of old wood. This is an excellent camouflage from enemies.

Adam's head (lat. Acherontia atropos) or hawk moth caterpillar- reaches a length of up to 10-14 cm. Adults can have different colors: yellow, bright green or brown. There are blue stripes across each segment. The body with blue dots and a black spiracle looks stylish and elegant. The hawkmoth butterfly looks a little scary: large, hairy, black in color. Easily visible on brightly colored vegetation.

Unusual caterpillars: name, characteristics, what it looks like, what kind of butterfly it turns out, description, photo

A person is attracted to everything unusual and beautiful. Many people don't like caterpillars because they think they are just ordinary "worms" - unremarkable and crawling around trees. But there are many beautiful and unusual caterpillars in the world that attract the eye with their bright colors, both on the larva and on the butterfly.

Brahmin Moth- live in China, Japan and India. They live on the trunks of small bushes. The body is painted black and orange, which gives the larva uniqueness. They transform into a butterfly that is active at night. It has a noble, beautiful brown-black color of its wings and body.

Swallowtail (Spicebush Swallowtail)— during its development, the caterpillar changes color three times: first it is brown, then dark green, and then turns into a yellow-orange beauty with the head of a snake. As a result, the caterpillar turns into a rich black butterfly - beautiful and stylish.

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail- The white, black and yellow caterpillar lives in North America. Loves plant nectar. It turns into a very beautiful metallic green butterfly with blue tints.

Dalcerida (Acraga coa)- this caterpillar looks like the creation of glassblowers - transparent, like glass and delicate, like crystal. Its simple and at the same time unusual color with orange splashes attracts people's attention, but it is not very noticeable on the vegetation. Transforms into a butterfly in an orange “fur coat”.

Witch moth caterpillar (Phobetron pithecium)- lives on fruit trees. It is a real slug, since it does not have special legs, but moves on the sole, which is located on the abdomen. Transforms into a shaggy brown butterfly covered with silky hairs.

Greta Oto

Greta Oto, or Glass Winged Butterfly- an ordinary caterpillar with a yellow stripe on its body transforms into a beautiful transparent butterfly. The glass effect is achieved due to the absence of colored flakes.

Slug worm (Isa textula)- this large yellow caterpillar, like a real slug, leaves marks on the surface of leaves and trunks. The fibers on the sides help protect against enemies. A butterfly with velvet wings looks like an ordinary moth.

Swallowtail (Pipevine Swallowtail)- lives in dense thickets taiga Notable for its red spots on the tubercles of the body. In the shade of dense crowns of trees and vegetation, the taiga is invisible. The blue butterfly with bright iridescent black wings is very beautiful. It feeds on the nectar of taiga flowers.

Caterpillar from the peacock eye family (Attacus Atlas)- a large white peacock-eyed caterpillar, as if plastered and frozen in its original state. The butterfly is very large with brown-orange wings and an original pattern on the wings.

Beautiful caterpillars: name, characteristics, what it looks like, what kind of butterfly it turns out, description, photo

Nature has made even certain types of caterpillars beautiful so that we can admire their uniqueness. Their luxurious hairs and interesting colors delight you and you want to look at such a natural phenomenon without taking your eyes off.

Saturnia Io

Saturnia Io (Automeris io)- a beautiful caterpillar with green fibers in the form of pompoms. It is impossible to even imagine that a larva with such a color turns into a red butterfly. She seems to look with her black eyes located on her pink-yellow lower wings.

Blue Morpho

Blue Morpho- it is impossible to pass by at the sight of such a caterpillar. I want to look at every color stroke on the surface of her body. She is a dream for any artist. Transforms into a small blue butterfly.

Slug worm (Isochaetes beutenmuelleri)- looks like a decoration that is made of blue glass covered with artificial snow. The fabulousness of this caterpillar is given by the fibers in the form of needles. They seem to be covered with real frost. The butterfly is a regular brown moth.

Caterpillars with spikes: name, characteristics, what it looks like, what kind of butterfly it turns out, description, photo

Caterpillars with spikes do not look intimidating. They are beautiful, bright and interesting, you can look at them for hours. But it is better not to touch such caterpillars with your hands, since many species can be poisonous, and the spines are their weapon for protection from the enemy, through which they release poison.

Caterpillar "Burning Rose"— its spines are located on the cuticles of the body. As it develops, it turns into a delicate moth with iridescent beige and greenish wings.

a caterpillar that looks like a piece of black coal turns into a beautiful Peacock butterfly - bright and with an interesting color. Lives in America and mountainous forests of Asia.

Dryas Julia

Dryas Julia - Atlas Peacock-Eyes caterpillar (Attacus atlas) brown and white caterpillar with black spines. Lives in Thailand and the island of Java. It turns into one of the largest butterflies in the world, with a wingspan of up to 25 centimeters.

Caterpillars with a horn on the head or tail: name, characteristics, what it looks like, what kind of butterfly it turns out, description, photo

Caterpillars with a horn are often mistaken for space aliens, as they have an unusual appearance. But these insects are beautiful and interesting in their own way.

Hawk hawk- a green caterpillar with a blue horn. Lives in North America. Butterflies that come from such a caterpillar are listed in the Red Book. They are on the verge of extinction as people catch them and sell them.

Wine Hawkmoth (Deilephila elpenor)- found in our latitudes. The body is elastic, thick, bright green in color. The butterfly is beautiful, the pink beige velvet decoration on the wings and body looks amazing.

Linden hawk moth (Mimas tiliae)- also predominates in our latitudes, but also lives in South America and Asia. Fine green color white dot with pink spiracles. The horn is multi-colored.

Small caterpillars: name, characteristics, what it looks like, what kind of butterfly it turns out, description, photo

The color of the caterpillar is usually the same as that of the plants they feed on. But there are microscopic caterpillars in the world that can masquerade as any flower, not only in color, but also in shape.

Flower Caterpillar Nemoriinae Tribe- you might immediately think that the caterpillar takes the shape of flower petals, but this is not so. She simply attaches the petals to her body using a silk thread produced by saliva. As a result, it is invisible on any inflorescence. Such a caterpillar turns into an ordinary moth, which no longer knows how to camouflage itself like its larva.

The smallest caterpillars in the world are clothes moth caterpillars. ( TINEOLA BISSELLIELLA ). Their size does not reach even a couple of millimeters, but they cause a lot of harm. If such a larva settles in a closet, then within a week it can ruin all the clothes, eating wool, fur fibers and skin.

At the end of its development phase it turns into an unsightly gray butterfly. Therefore, if you notice such a moth, then know that the job has already been done, and you need to look for a damaged item in your closet.

Fluffy, hairy caterpillars: name, characteristics, what it looks like, what kind of butterfly it turns out, description, photo

Beautiful and unusual fluffy and hairy caterpillars were described above. All these species delight with their original appearance. Here are some more caterpillars that look like fluffy and cute little balls of fur or fur.

Caterpillar Megalopyge opercularis- one of the varieties of coquette caterpillar. It seems that its body is a continuous thick head of hair, but this is how the caterpillar camouflages itself. Transforms into an interesting moth with velvety wings. The charm is given by light waves on the wings and a shaggy “mane” on the head.

Spotted Apatelodes- the only “blonde” caterpillar of its kind. Black spots of the body are visible through the white fibers. The body itself is yellow. Transforms into an elegant moth with unusual wings.

Striped caterpillars: name, characteristics, what it looks like, what kind of butterfly it turns out, description, photo

Common moth caterpillar- eats leaves big trees and bushes. It lives in our latitudes, as well as in America and Canada. The butterfly looks like an ordinary gray moth with large eyes and a furry abdomen.

- similar in color to a zebra, but has black and orange stripes. This striped caterpillar lives in New Zealand, North America and Australia. It feeds on ragwort bushes, so this diet makes them poisonous. A butterfly with a very interesting dark color leads a diurnal lifestyle. The red line and spots on the black wings give the appearance of this insect a bewitching charm and uniqueness.

- this type of caterpillar is the larvae of one of the most beautiful species of butterflies in the world. They live in England, America, Ireland. Listed in the Red Book. The Swallowtail butterfly is a real decoration of fields and forests. She is more beautiful than any flower or other insect - graceful, bright and unique.

Silver hole (Phalera bucephala)- brown-black stripes on the body, covered with many thin villi. It lives in Russia, Turkey, some countries of Eastern Europe, as well as Scandinavia.

Caterpillars with a large head and eyes: name, characteristics, what it looks like, what kind of butterfly it turns out, description, photo

There are caterpillars in the world that resemble aliens. It feels like they came to us from outer space. Their head looks like the head of an alien. This helps the larvae repel predators. All they have to do is stand in a pose and all the enemies immediately scatter.

Caterpillar astronaut, Oleander Hawkmoth Daphnis nerii— in our latitudes, such a caterpillar is called the tomato hawk moth. It can be not only green, but also red with blue dots that look like eyes. The butterfly looks like a moth, but its color makes you admire it.

Hawkmoth caterpillar, megalopygid butterfly- lives in North America and Australia. It is impossible to pass by such a caterpillar, since its large spots on the head, similar to eyes, force one to pay attention to this caterpillar. This hawk moth is a very beautiful butterfly, and it looks like she is going to a gala ball - a white and red dress and a white cape with black dots.

Hawkmoth caterpillar (Hyles Euphorbiae)- lives in Southern and Central Europe. It is called an assistant in the fight against weeds, as it quickly destroys plantations of different types of similar plants. This hawkmoth's butterfly looks like a large moth with beige wings and brown and red splashes.

Caterpillars with dots and spots: name, characteristics, what it looks like, what kind of butterfly it turns out, description, photo

Another type of unusual coloring on the body of caterpillars is dots and spots. Such larvae look no less unusual than minke whales and space caterpillars.

Purple Caterpillar (Insects Caterpillar Cover)- many people are surprised where this name comes from, because the larva itself is brown-black. But it got its name thanks to the butterfly it turns into. Lives in the forests of Russia, America and Scandinavia.

Apollo butterfly caterpillar

Bedstraw Celerio galii Rott- a brown-green caterpillar with a red tail or horn lives in our latitudes. The butterfly looks like a brightly colored moth that is diurnal.

Apollo butterfly

Apollo butterfly caterpillar- lives in Norway, Finland and Sweden. Bright orange spots on the caterpillar's body and red spots on the butterfly's wings warn that the insect is poisonous. Upon contact with human skin, it causes a rash and irritation. Even watery blisters may appear.

Poisonous caterpillars: name, characteristics, what it looks like, what kind of butterfly it turns out, description, photo

A person should be wary of poisonous caterpillars. You cannot pick them up or even come close. Many species cause a burning sensation on the skin upon contact with the insect’s body, while others can even be life-threatening: breathing rhythm is disrupted, heart palpitations occur, headache and so on.

Flannel Moth- This poisonous caterpillar looks like a small hamster. Her butterfly is no less beautiful. But it is strictly forbidden to touch it with your hands, as it causes an allergic reaction and even a feeling of suffocation.

Lazy clown caterpillar (lat. Lonomia obliqua)- lives in Uruguay. A highly poisonous insect that secretes a special natural toxin. The venom of this caterpillar causes skin burns. In addition, the toxin can penetrate through the skin to internal organs and cause hemorrhage, for example, in the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and also causes pulmonary edema and disruption of the central nervous system.

Saturnia Maya caterpillar (Hemileuca maia) - covered with hollow spines, upon contact with which, a burning sensation on the skin, rash and nausea appears. The appearance of this caterpillar should be frightening, because a crawling, hairy insect with black spines will disgust any person. This caterpillar lives in our latitudes on oaks and willows. The butterfly from this caterpillar is also black in color with a hairy body, but it is not poisonous.

Caterpillar (Orgyia leucostigma)— you won’t be able to pass by such a caterpillar, since it is noticeable thanks to its red head and white body. Eats everything green and woody in its path. If you touch the hairs of this insect, burns and irritation immediately occur. The rash may not go away for several weeks.

White cedar moth caterpillar (leptocneria reducta)- lives on a cedar tree in several groups at the same time, eating every single leaf. Contact with the hairs of this caterpillar causes irritation, but not for all people. If a person has sensitive skin, they will most likely feel a burn and develop a rash.

Remember: Beautiful caterpillars are almost always poisonous. Their bright colors are designed to scare away predators. Therefore, if you see, for example, a blue caterpillar with an orange head or a green caterpillar with bright red, blue or black spots, try not to touch such insects with your hands and move away from them.

Caterpillars are amazing insects. Ordinary people don’t know much about them and think that they are ordinary worms that crawl through trees. Only entomological specialists know everything about caterpillars. Here are interesting facts about these insects:

Entomophagy, or the eating of insects, has flourished on Earth since ancient times. Caterpillars occupy a place of honor among gourmets. They are eaten raw, dried, fried, with sauces, and omelettes.
The silkworm caterpillar is specially bred in many countries. From 100 kg of cocoons, 9 kilograms of silk thread are obtained.
The color of any caterpillar imitates the living conditions of this insect. This is an excellent means of camouflage and protection.
The caterpillar's body contains 4,000 muscles. For comparison, a person has only 629 of them.
During the first two months of life, the caterpillar eats a lot plant food, which helps it increase in size up to 20,000 times its original weight.
Caterpillars that live in northern latitudes, do not have time to go through the entire development cycle in one season, and therefore they remain to spend the winter in cocoons. It is worth noting that in this state the caterpillar can withstand frost temperatures down to -70 degrees.
Some types of caterpillars live in anthills, making special sounds and secreting enzymes. The ants think that the caterpillar is their queen, so they feed it and take care of it.
Certain species of caterpillars become poisonous due to the food they eat. For example, the caterpillars of the moss bear feed on poisonous ragwort. Their body begins to release toxins, making these insects a threat to animals and people.

Caterpillars are amazing creatures of nature. There are many different species, and almost all of them turn into beautiful and graceful butterflies that adorn our lives.

Video: The largest caterpillar EVER

Some people think caterpillars are 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 undergo one of the most incredible transformation processes in the world of wildlife, communicate using the most unexpected body parts and are capable of emitting nicotine fumes!

In our list you will also find details about how caterpillars manage to subjugate ants, move in space, and see a larva that Donald Trump himself copies (Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States).

10. Portable body armor

More recently, in Peru, scientists discovered a new species of caterpillars, which they nicknamed hermit crabs for their habits, which are very reminiscent of the behavior of these arthropod creatures. No one had ever seen simple caterpillars behave exactly like this before. The new species has the habit of making itself a kind of protective suit, reminiscent of a portable cage or body armor. The fortification is woven directly from 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 using its mouth and forelimbs, dragging its protective suit with it everywhere. While the larva obtains food for itself, its body remains under the protection of the leaf cocoon. The clever creature even provided a special recess in the center of its body armor, 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

What types of camouflage do caterpillars resort to in order to protect their soft bodies from animals and insects that are not averse to feasting on these small creatures? Some caterpillars look like bird droppings, others have bright spots that look just like snake eyes, and there are also larvae that have learned to imitate their poisonous relatives, which is why predators prefer to avoid them.

However, among all this soft-bodied brethren, there is one species of caterpillars that has absolutely unique abilities. The larva of the moth of the species Synchlora aerata camouflages itself in a rather inventive way - for camouflage it uses pieces of petals and other parts of the plants on which it feeds. This caterpillar decorates its back with leaves using sticky saliva, and when its colorful costume wears out, the animal tears off its old disguise and starts all over again.

8. Jumping caterpillar

In the forests of South Vietnam, caterpillars wrap themselves in leaves, like a sleeping bag, to begin the pupation process. And a species called Calindoea trifascialis has even learned to jump on the ground right in such a leafy cocoon, and he does this to hide from sun 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 to begin its final transformation into a butterfly. When Professor Chris Darling began studying these little yellow larvae in 1998, he and his students noticed that the hopping creature was secreting a strange liquid. Not every sane person would think of licking 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 a consequence of the protective system of the larva, which used its chemical weapon against him.

In the laboratory, the scientist found out what kind of liquid he licked, and it turned out to be an unpleasant-smelling mixture of hydrocarbons and hydrocyanic acid produced by the body of the insect. The smell of this poisonous liquid fills the caterpillar's homemade cocoon and scares off ants and other voracious predators, which otherwise would not fail to sink their teeth into the protein-rich body of the larva.

7. Caterpillar with a hat

And this larva is the future moth of the Uraba lugens species, but before its legendary phase of transformation into a winged creature, it lives no less amazing life. On her head it is easy to notice a process in the form of an eccentric horn. This strange part of the caterpillar’s body is actually a “hat” of 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 onto the very top of the new and now larger head, thus creating a new level of amazing crown over and over again.

During its life, the Uraba lugens larva molts about 13 times before final pupation, so sometimes a real tower of old body parts can be built 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 researchers assumed that the unique headdress of this creature was a kind of security system. Perhaps the horn distracts the predators, and they attack the empty head capsules, while the real caterpillar just manages to escape.

This theory sounded quite plausible for some time, until scientists conducted a series of experiments showing that both caterpillars without hats and larvae with horns, caught in a Petri dish along with the insects feeding on them, coped with the task of self-defense almost equally. They probably just like to put their own heads together...

6. Musical maestros 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 body. Scientists from Carlton University, Canada, have discovered that birch silkworm caterpillars have special anal processes that they use to scrape leaves to signal their relatives.

This is not the only method of communication that these larvae practice. Birch silkworms have also learned to shake their bodies and drum their mouthparts (mandibles) on the surface of leaves, allowing them to 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 fellows 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 individually, and some scientists even believe that these caterpillars do not actually communicate with each other. But evolutionary biologist Jayne Yack has a different opinion: "I've studied insect sounds for over 30 years, and I've never seen an insect produce so many different calls." The caterpillars probably use all these sounds and vibrations to form social groups.

5. Poisonous nicotine breath

One of the favorite snacks of the tobacco hawk moth caterpillar is extremely toxic tobacco leaves. This plant contains a toxic 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 happily feasts on these leaves, which are toxic and even lethal for some animals, but has 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 the blood flow in the insect world). The hawkmoth larva then opens small pores in its skin (spiracles) and releases toxic fumes. Biologists call 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 being attacked and becoming someone's tasty morsel.

4. Hawaiian carnivorous caterpillars

On the Hawaiian Islands live carnivorous caterpillars that 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 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. To prevent the snake from escaping its fate, Hyposmocoma molluscivora chains its victim to the leaves with a silk thread, just like spiders spin a real cocoon of webs around small insects. The caterpillar then climbs into the silk trap containing the captive snake and slowly eats the victim directly alive, leaving only the empty shell of the snake.

Hyposmocoma molluscivora is the only species of caterpillar that feeds on snakes, but its uniqueness does not end there. It turns out that this larva is so far the only known full-fledged amphibian of its kind. It is able to survive both on land and underwater, although researchers still do not understand how exactly it manages to breathe in an aquatic environment. Daniel Rubinoff, a 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), which look just like a small clawed hand waiting for its chance to pounce on an unsuspecting prey. These masters of camouflage stretch their bodies along the leaves, pretending to be harmless stems, and freeze until the unfortunate victim approaches them. But when its turn comes, in the blink of an eye the flower moth slams its body shut and grabs the surprised prey with its clawed legs.

These are just two examples of as many as 18 species of carnivorous caterpillars found in the Hawaiian Islands. The wildlife in this region is truly amazing!

3. Caterpillar overlords and slave owners

The caterpillar of the Japanese blueberry butterfly of the species Arhopala amantes has an incredible and even almost sinister security system against spiders, wasps and other predatory insects from its range. These larvae have learned to take innocent ants into virtual slavery, forcing them to become their warlike 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. The 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 leave their new owner, the sinister caterpillar-lord Arhopala amantes.

The larva of this butterfly has even learned to give orders to attack - when it unfolds its small antennae, its subordinate ants become especially aggressive and attack any insect approaching them. Professor at Kobe University, Japan, Masuru Hojo, believes that glandular cells in the area of the caterpillar's antennae secrete a special chemical, which is perceived by enslaved ants as a signal to attack strangers. “It is possible that both the visual and chemical cues 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 weapon, with which they manipulate the ants that have tried their “potion.”

2. Floating entrails and soft-bodied robots

You've probably noticed how unusually the caterpillars move. In motion they resemble tiny waves. However, what happens inside them during this bizarre crawling deserves a separate discussion. Did you know, for example, that the guts of a larva are one step ahead of the rest of its body? Biologists at Tufts University's School of Arts and Sciences came to this conclusion when they x-rayed tobacco hawk moth caterpillars 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 test specimens on a tiny homemade caterpillar treadmill and illuminated their insides with a special particle accelerator from the Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois. Researchers have discovered that the caterpillar's internal organs move independently of its outer shell and even outpace its limbs. “The movement of internal tissues caused by general locomotion (the scientific term for moving from place to place) has been observed in many organisms, but caterpillars appear to move using a two-part system, including an outer shell and enclosed innards. This mechanism explains the amazing freedom of movement of these soft-bodied sliders,” says Michael Simon, the first author of the study on this topic, who published his work in the British scientific journal Current Biology. This unique form of crawler locomotion is called “visceral locomotive pistoning”.

You might wonder 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 into the crawling mechanism of caterpillars can be very useful for the development of soft-body robots, which may subsequently 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 electronics, fragile instruments and chemicals." A rigid-frame robot has a hard shell, while a soft-body vehicle can be deformed in all directions without damaging its contents.

Citing his team's research into the amazing propulsion system of caterpillars, Michael Simon reminded us all that "the world is still full of opportunities for new discoveries in even the simplest and most everyday things and places."

1. Caterpillar soup and imaginal discs

We all know that caterpillars spin cocoons to protect their chrysalis from the outside world while it goes through the wonderful process of becoming a butterfly or moth. A pupa is essentially a hardened shell, inside which the caterpillar prepares for the most important changes in its life. Initially, this shell grows directly under top layer larval skin. When this outer skin falls off, the chrysalis (pupa) emerges. 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 thing begins: once in a fairly hard protective cocoon, the caterpillar secretes special digestive enzymes that destroy its body into a real soup. The larva literally dissolves and digests itself, but some of its extremely important tissues remain intact. These are called imaginal discs.

What is this 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 (the same imaginal discs). Each disc represents a different part of the body that it will eventually become when the caterpillar becomes a butterfly or moth. Each wing, eye, antenna and leg has its own separate imaginal disc.

Once the pupated caterpillar has digested and turned most of its body into a liquid soup of organs, leaving only its imaginal discs floating in the mixture, these clusters of cells use the liquid environment around them as fuel to quickly form the organs of the future adult butterfly or moth. The entire process of transformation from the egg stage, larvae and until the emergence of the adult is called holometaboly.

It would seem, after everything described, what even more extraordinary could happen in the lives of these creatures? However, researchers have recently discovered that at least some species of moth retain memories of laboratory experiments in which they took part as caterpillars.

So evolutionary ecologist Martha Weiss placed a tobacco hawk moth larva in a small Y-shaped tube. One of the sections of this tube led towards the area that smelled of ethyl acetate (a pungent odor), and the other - to clean air. Caterpillars that chose a path that smelled of ethyl acetate were given an electric shock, after which 78% of them preferred 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 moles reliably avoided tubes that smelled of ethyl acetate. According to Martha Weiss, this proves that during the most significant restructuring of the body, which is the transition from the pupa to the stage of an adult insect, these animals somehow retain the areas of the brain responsible for the memories of the caterpillar.

Bonus! Every caterpillar's worst nightmare

Bonus-2! Caterpillar-Trump

This funny little ball of yellow hair is a caterpillar of a butterfly of the megalopygid family. Recently, playful researchers who discovered this caterpillar in the Amazon forests of Peru began to call the shaggy creature “Trumpapillar” for its amazing

Pictured is the Winter Armyworm

Early purple-gray armyworm Orthosia incerta Hdn. (syn. Taeniocampa incerta Hfn.) - a butterfly with a wingspan of 35-37 mm. The forewings are violet-gray with a reddish-brown tint, the hind wings are yellowish-white, covered in gray pollen. On the front wings there are two large blurry spots with white edges and a wavy whitish line.

In the photo, the caterpillar of the winter armyworm

The fall armyworm caterpillar is green, lightly patterned, with a white or yellow line on the back and light yellow on the sides.

The pupa is red-brown in color. Caterpillars feed during May - July on fruit and deciduous trees and shrubs.

Look what cutworm caterpillars look like in the photo where they are presented. different stages their development:

Control measures or how to get rid of cutworm caterpillars, described below, the most current remedies are proposed.

Collection and destruction of single caterpillars. Preventive annual spraying of plants before flowering against a complex of pests with drugs: fufanon, kemifos, kinmiks, actellik, spark, Inta-Vir, also reduces the number of armyworms.

In the photo there is a yellow-brown armyworm

Early yellow-brown cutworm Orthosia stabilis Schiff. (syn. Taeniocampaaa stabilis View) - a butterfly with a wingspan of 35 mm. The forewings are brownish-red with a yellow tint. There is a wavy whitish line and spots with light edges. Near the transverse line a row of black small dots. The hind wings are yellowish-gray, with light fringe.

Unlike the cutworm butterfly, the caterpillar does not have such an attractive appearance.

In the photo there is a yellow-brown scythe caterpillar

It is green, with small yellowish dots and five yellowish longitudinal lines on the back.

The penultimate ring has a yellow crossbar. The flight of butterflies is observed in April; after fertilization, females lay eggs on the buds and leaves of bushes and trees. Feeding and development of caterpillars is observed in late May - June. The early yellow-brown armyworm is common on apple trees, oak trees and many deciduous trees. It is constantly found on strawberries due to the presence of green leaves on overwintered bushes.

Fighting methods against cutworm caterpillars are the same as against the purple cutworm.

In the photo there is a brown-gray scoop

Early brown armyworm Orthosia gothica L. (syn. Taeniocampa gothica L.) - a butterfly with a wingspan of 35-37 mm, the front wings are brown-gray with a light wavy stripe and thin white transverse lines. Between the kidney-shaped and black oblong spots there is a black space with ring-shaped spots, the hind wings are gray-brown.

In the photo there is a brown-gray scoop caterpillar

The caterpillar of the gnawing cutworm is green in color, with a green head, three whitish-yellow lines on the back, and a wide band on the sides. white stripe. The pupa is brown. Caterpillars feed in April-May on fruit trees, shrubs and many herbaceous plants.

Control measures the same as against the early violet-gray cutworm.

Pictured is the Blue-headed Owl

Blue-headed armyworm, or blue-headed cutworm Diloba coeruleocephala L. (syn. Episema coeruleocephala L.), is a moth of brownish-gray color, with a wingspan of 40 mm. The forewings are violet-gray, with a large yellowish-white spot, consisting of three small ones; the base of the wings is brownish, with a reddish spot. The same spot is also present on the inner corner of the wing. The hind wings are light gray, with an indistinct spot and a dark posterior corner. The fight against the blue-headed armyworm caterpillar should begin long before the butterflies emerge.

In the photo, the blue-headed armyworm caterpillar

The caterpillar is bluish-white, 35-38 mm long, has yellowish lines on the back and sides and black tubercles along the body, covered with hairs. The pupa is red-brown in color, covered with bluish-gray pollen. The eggs overwinter on branches near the buds. In early spring, the caterpillars hatch and feed on buds, leaves and fruits, roughly eating them. On damaged ovaries, nibbles remain, which are later visible as brown, healed damage to the fruit. Having finished feeding, the caterpillars pupate in June in dense, cobwebby white cocoons in crevices of the bark. In September - early October, butterflies fly out and after fertilization, the females lay eggs on the branches. One generation of the pest develops per year.

The cutworm damages all fruit crops, many berry bushes and forest species.

Control measures the same as against the early violet-gray cutworm.

Once in my childhood, at my grandmother’s in the village, I saw an unusual caterpillar - a large, bright green one with orange horns. When I touched it with a twig, the caterpillar released its horns more strongly. I don’t know what kind of butterfly it turned out to be, but the caterpillar was very beautiful. Recently I remembered this episode from my childhood and tried to search the Internet for this caterpillar. Maybe I didn’t remember something so well, but I didn’t find one, but I did find many other interesting and unusual ones. By the way, most beautiful caterpillars have rather plain-looking butterflies...

Among the caterpillars there are simply stunningly beautiful specimens, but the bright coloring most often indicates that these creatures are poisonous. This provides them with reliable protection from enemies, but people are curious and strive to hold these cuties in their hands. For example, a caterpillar eucleid butterflies (Sibine stimulea) looks funny: she seems to be wearing a green vest with a hole in the back. At both ends of the larva's body there are a pair of horn-like processes. On these processes there are many stinging hairs, touching which the offender will immediately be struck by poison. The sensations after contact with the eucleid caterpillar are very painful: the affected area swells, a rash and nausea appear. A person can remain in this state for several days. living in North and South America.

2. Sibine stimulation

Butterfly caterpillar dipper bear It resembles a zebra in color, only it is painted with black and orange stripes. These cute creatures have a truly brutal appetite, and they feed on plants of the ragus genus, most of which are poisonous. This species of butterfly was even specially distributed in New Zealand, Australia and North America in order to reduce the number of ragworts growing in the area. Actually, thanks to this diet, caterpillars become poisonous

3. Ursa rosa

Newly hatched butterfly larva monarch so small that after hatching it can hardly be seen. True, it grows very quickly, feeding exclusively on plants of the genus cottonweed, the milky juice of which is poisonous. Thanks to this, the larvae also become poisonous and inedible for predators. Very soon the monarch danaid caterpillar reaches 5 centimeters in length, and their striped black, white and yellow coloring can already be clearly seen. By the way, the monarch is considered one of the most beautiful butterflies in the world. One of the most famous butterflies North America, in the 19th century, representatives of this species were found in New Zealand and Australia. In Europe they are common Canary Islands and Madeira, during migrations they were recorded in Russia, the Azores, Sweden and Spain, and are found in northern Africa.

4. Monarch.

Caterpillar gypsy moth has on its body, covered with an unimaginable number of hairs, five pairs of red and six pairs of blue spots. The hairs serve mainly for propagation - thanks to them, the larvae are easily picked up and carried by the wind.

However, if the hairs are touched, pain and skin irritation will occur. The gypsy moth is a real scourge of forest lands; maples, elms and oaks are especially often affected by the caterpillars. The gypsy moth is distributed throughout almost all of Europe, North Africa, temperate latitudes of Asia and North America, the southern regions of Central Asia.

5. Gypsy moth.

Butterfly caterpillar Parasa indetermina The family of tearworms does not exceed 1 inch in length, and is colored with longitudinal stripes of orange, yellow and brown, and a wide purple stripe runs down the back. On the body of the caterpillar there are five pairs of massive processes similar to horns, which are dotted with small hairs with black tips. Touching the larva causes a very unpleasant sensation, as the poisonous tips dig into the skin, causing a rash and itching. The caterpillar feeds on the leaves of dogwood, maple, oak, cherry, apple, poplar and hickory and lives in North and South America.

6. Parasa indetermina

Lophocampa caryae- a black and white caterpillar whose body is covered with many grayish-white hairs. However, these hairs do not pose any danger, since the larva’s weapon is two pairs of black spines located in the front and back of the body, each of which is connected to a poisonous gland. Upon contact with thorns, irritation and rash appear on human skin. These caterpillars are common in southern Canada and the northern regions of the United States and are found between June and September. The larvae live for approximately 8 weeks, feeding on hickory and walnut leaves.

7. Lophocampa caryae

Automeris.io- a very beautiful butterfly of the peacock-eye family, living in North America. Its caterpillar starts life orange, but as it ages it changes to bright green with two stripes of red and white on the sides of its body.

The entire surface of the larva's body is dotted with tufts of hairs, upon touching which the offender will be struck by two types of poison at once, causing severe pain, burning, and inflammation. This caterpillar feeds on the leaves of willow, maple, oak, elm, aspen, cherry and pear, and is found between February and September.

8.Automeris.io

Another representative of the slug family - Euclea delphinii. Its body, flattened at the top, does not exceed one inch in length, and is colored for the most part in green color, with two longitudinal orange-red stripes. Like other slugs, this caterpillar's weapon is poisonous spine-like hairs on the back of its body. Upon contact, they dig into the skin, and without medical assistance the person will feel ill. The species lives in the United States, feeding on the leaves of ash, oak, chestnut and some other trees.

9. Euclea delphinii

A few more caterpillars and their butterflies, which I found in the depths of the Internet))

Butterflies from the squad blueberries quite often found in Russia, including Siberia. These butterflies are quite small, but so cute, and the caterpillars are quite ordinary.

10. Cupido arjades

11. Lucaena dispar

Peacock eye- a butterfly that can also often be found in our area. It's a beautiful butterfly, and its caterpillar is also quite interesting.

12. Peacock eye.

Swallowtail considered one of the most beautiful butterflies in Europe ( perhaps I saw a similar caterpillar in childhood). In total, there are 550 species of this beautiful family in the world fauna, inhabiting the temperate zone of Asia, northern Africa, North America, throughout Europe (absent only in Ireland, and in England it lives only in the county of Norfolk). The swallowtail was once one of the most common butterflies in Europe, but is now a rare, declining species and is listed in the Red Book. The decline in the number of this beautiful butterfly is associated, first of all, with the change or complete destruction of its habitats through the use of pesticides and other toxic substances, as well as due to trapping.

13. Swallowtail sailboat

Ursa Caja (Arctia caja) distributed throughout Europe, as well as in Siberia, the Far East, Central and Asia Minor, China, Korea and Japan, and North America. Lives in gardens, wastelands and other open places.

14. Arctia caja

The silver hole (Phalera bucephala) is found in all countries of central and eastern Europe, Scandinavia, the Baltic states, the European part of Russia and Turkey.

15. Phalera bucephala

Small peacock eye, or Night Peacock's Eye (Saturnia pavonia). The wingspan of these butterflies is 50 - 70 mm. Sexual dimorphism is pronounced: in females the background of the hind wings is gray, and in the male it is orange. The butterfly is distributed throughout most of Europe, Asia Minor, throughout forest zone Eurasia to Japan, in the European part of Russia, in the Caucasus, in Siberia, in the Far East. Inhabits heather heaths, as well as mountain, rocky steppes and deciduous forests.

16. Saturnia pavonia

Heliconid Julia (Dryas Julia) has a bright orange wing color; when at rest, it folds them and becomes like a dry leaf. Distributed in Central and South America. Found all year round, sometimes in large numbers.

17. Dryas Julia

Peacock-eye Atlas (Attacus atlas)- a butterfly from the Peacock-eye family is considered one of the largest butterflies in the world; wingspan up to 26 cm, females are noticeably larger than males. Found in tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia, South China and from Thailand to Indonesia, Borneo, Java.

18.Attacs atlas.

Butterfly Heliconius melpomene belongs to the Heliconidae family; distributed over a vast area from Mexico to Brazil. Lives in humid forests, flies through copses, but avoids sunny places.

19. Heliconius melpomene