Caterpillar | Facts & Information

Origin

The etymological origin of the word "Caterpillar" has its roots in the 16th century from the English word catyrpeller or the French word catepelose. The translation from Latin is cattus, which means cat and pilosus which means hairy.

Caterpillar = hairy cat. In Greece they are called or were known as geometrids (geometrids) which translates as "measurements of the Earth".

Caterpillar Food

As everyone knows the vast majority of caterpillars live in trees and feed on leaves. Besides leaves, some species feed on insects.

Given the huge appetite, which is found in the damage they leave behind, if they have abundant food the caterpillars grow quite quickly and shed several times during this time.

Caterpillar Features

Caterpillars are found in different sizes, shapes and colors depending on the area in which we will look for them. Their size varies from 1mm to 10cm. Their body is long and soft and consists of annular "layers" on which we meet a pair of legs.

Some caterpillars have longer hair hoping to defend themselves from predators, but some birds (some flying and chickens, turkeys and other domestic animals.) they prefer them even so hairy for their high protein content.

Other caterpillars have venom glands and are toxic. They can be recognized with distinct, more vivid colors such as red, glben, black, etc.for protection some species "collaborate" with ants by giving them food instead.

Caterpillars cause economic damage by eating leaves. They are species that affect agricultural land and cause enormous losses. They have been the target of fighting humans through the use of pesticides, but over time many species have become resistant to pesticides.

Plants have even evolved to produce toxins and resistance mechanisms, such as spikes or hairs, to avoid being eaten by caterpillars.

Some caterpillars are used in industry. The silk industry relies on Caterpillar silkworms.

Caterpillar Reproduction

As a reproduction we could say that the caterpillar reproduces.

The species of caterpillars/larvae emerge butterflies, bees, ants or wasps, but also other caterpillars.

Butterflies, for example, lay eggs, from the eggs come the caterpillars that grow to the larva stage, from the larvae come the butterflies and the cycle resumes.