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unusual facts about Caterpillars



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Antipredator adaptation

Many species of slug caterpillars, Limacodidae, have numerous protuberances and stinging spines along their dorsal surfaces.

Aricia lupini

The hairs of the caterpillars can cause skin irritation (Urticaria).

Aristolochia littoralis

In Australia A. littoralis is fatal to the caterpillars of Ornithoptera euphorion and of the threatened Richmond Birdwing Butterfly and threatens to displace their proper host plant, A. tagala.

Aristolochia rotunda

This species is the only host plant of the caterpillars of a beautiful uncommon butterfly (Zerynthia polyxena).

Bank Myna

They feed on a variety of insects, including some that are crop pests such as Achaea janata whose caterpillars feed on castor.

Biston strataria

An experiment was carried out to discover whether caterpillars of B. strataria, Ennomos alniaria, and Lycia hirtaria were protected from Eurasian Jays and Common Chaffinches by their resemblance to the sticks they resided upon.

Ceanothus fendleri

The caterpillars of Erynnis pacuvius, the buckthorn duskywing, feed on this plant and other species of Ceanothus.

Chaparral

Prunus fasciculata, Desert almond, (commonly infested with tent caterpillars of Malacosoma spp.)

Cobweb painting

Web painting is first documented in the 16th century from the Valley of Pustertal in the Austrian Tyrolean Alps, carried out by monks who produced paintings on canvases made entirely of spiders' webs or caterpillars' silk.

Consul fabius

The eggs are laid on the leaves of various species of Piperaceae (Piper tuberculatum, Piper auritum, Piper umbellatum, etc.), of which the caterpillars feed.

Coreopsis

Coreopsis species are used as food plants by the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera species including Coleophora acamtopappi.

Ficus racemosa

It serves as a food plant for the caterpillars of the butterfly the Two-brand Crow (Euploea sylvester) of northern Australia.

God's utility function

Dawkins first recounts a famous religious dilemma experienced by Charles Darwin, "I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the Ichneumonidae with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of Caterpillars." We ask why a caterpillar should suffer such cruel punishment.

Harpactor angulosus

This assassin bug has been documented predating upon caterpillars of the genus Hylesia (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae: Hemileucinae) in Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Hemipenthes morio

The larvae are hyperparasites (parasites of parasites), mainly developing in larvae of flies (Diptera, Tachinidae), as well as in wasp larvae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae) parasitizing caterpillars moths (Noctuidae).

Isar Valley Railway

Freight operations started shortly after the opening of the line in 1892 and in 1893, the largest loads occurred because, after an infestation of the Forstenrieder Park by Black Arches caterpillars, the damaged wood had to be removed quickly.

Kiggelaria africana

A multitude of birds enjoy the tiny red fruits and will consequently be attracted to this tree, as are Acraea horta butterflies (Their caterpillars sometimes eat the tree bare, but this is part of a natural process and the Kiggelaria trees always rapidly regrow their foliage).

Larix decidua

European Larch needles are the only known food for caterpillars of the case-bearer moth Coleophora sibiricella; its cone scales are used as food by the caterpillars of the tortrix moth Cydia illutana.

Lepidosperma laterale

Many species of the moth genus Elachista lay their eggs on Lepidosperma laterale and the caterpillars eat the leaves.

Lonomia

The larvae, like most hemileucines, are covered with urticating hairs, but these caterpillars possess a uniquely potent anticoagulant venom.

Lymantria dispar multicapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus

Zombie caterpillars is a fanciful description of the behavior of Lymantria dispar dispar infected with LdMNPV.

Macaria liturata

The caterpillars feed on coniferous trees such as Scots pine.

Myrmica scabrinodis

Phengaris caterpillars are primary threats of M. scabrinodis with specific species such as Phengaris arion developing a predatory relationship.

Nacophorini

Caterpillars of Declana from New Zealand, also tentatively placed in the Nacophorini, have been found on Myrtaceae (eucalyptus, Kunzea and Leptospermum), Pinaceaelarches (Larix), pines (Pinus, notably Monterey Pine, P. radiata) and Coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) –, and southern beeches (Nothofagaceae).

Caterpillars of the African species tentatiely placed in this tribe have been recorded from Cunoniaceae, Ericaceae, Fabaceae and Thymelaceae.

Osmeterium

The osmeterium is a fleshy organ found in the prothoracic segment of larvae (caterpillars) of Swallowtail butterflies including Birdwings and the '-prominent (Notodontidae) moths.

Paralucia

The caterpillars feed on Bursaria and sometimes Pittosporum species and co-habit with ants of the genera Anonychomyrma and Notoncus.

Perizoma alchemillata

Caterpillars of this species feed inside the seed capsules, and on the flowers of, Galeopsis tetrahit

Poa pratensis

This species is amongst the foodplants of the caterpillars of the Meadow Brown (Maniola jurtina) and Gatekeeper (Pyronia tithonus) butterflies; the Common Sun Beetle (Amara aenea) (adults feed on the developing seeds), Eupelix cuspidata of the leafhopper family, and Myrmus miriformis, a grassbug (feeds on young blades and developing seeds).

Poa trivialis

The food plant of the caterpillars of small heath Coenonympha pamphilus, Meadow Brown Maniola jurtina, Gatekeeper Butterfly butterflies; Common Sun beetle Amara aenea - adults feed on the developing seeds, Eupelix cuspidata of the leafhopper family, and Myrmus miriformis a grassbug - feeds on young blades and developing seeds.

Satureja

Caterpillars of the moth Coleophora bifrondella feed exclusively on winter savory (S. montana).

Shining Bronze Cuckoo

Insectivorous, the Shining Bronze Cuckoo eats insects that are avoided by other birds, such as caterpillars, particularly those of the magpie moth, and beetles, particularly ladybirds.

St Abb's Head

The butterflies drink nectar from the flowers of the Wild Thyme and the caterpillars eat the leaves of Rock Rose, the areas in which these two plants grow are protected from sheep grazing by fencing.

St Matthew Friday Street

In 1636, he preached there that William Laud’s changes to church ritual were drawing the Church of England closer to popery and accused the bishops of being “caterpillars”, not pillars of the church.

Tachiniscinae

An undetermined species of the genus Tachiniscidia has been reared from Saturniidae caterpillars in Nigeria.

The Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles

A companion guide to caterpillars, The Colour Identification Guide to Caterpillars of the British Isles, by Jim Porter, was published in 1997.

Tornatellides

These very small snails are preyed upon by caterpillars of the moth Hyposmocoma molluscivora.


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