Caterpillar
48337
225799021
2008-07-15T13:30:19Z
132.206.77.128
{{otheruses}}
'''Caterpillars''' are the [[larva]]l form of a member of the [[order (biology)|order]] [[Lepidoptera]] (the [[insect]] order comprising [[butterfly|butterflies]] and [[moth]]s). They are mostly [[phytophagous]] in food habit, with some species being [[entomophagous]]. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered [[Pest (organism)|pest]]s in [[agriculture]]. Many moth [[species]] are better known in their caterpillar stages because of the damage they cause to fruits and other agricultural produce.
The etymological origins of the word are from the late 1400s, from [[Middle English]] ''catirpel'', ''catirpeller'', probably an alteration of [[Old French|Old North French]] ''catepelose'' : ''cate'', cat (from Latin ''cattus'') + ''pelose'', hairy (from Latin ''pilōsus''). <ref>"caterpillar". Dictionary.com. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/caterpillar (accessed: March 26, 2008).</ref>
[[Image:Western tent caterpillars Malacosoma californicum edit1.jpg|Western [[tent caterpillar]]s|200px|right|thumb]]
==Anatomy==
Most caterpillars have tubular, segmented bodies. They have three pairs of true legs on the three thoracic segments, up to four pairs of [[proleg]]s on the middle segments of the [[abdomen]], and often a single pair of prolegs on the last abdominal segment. There are ten abdominal segments. The families of lepidoptera differ in the numbers and positioning of the prolegs.
[[Image:Geometridae.jpg|thumb|right|A [[Geometridae|geometrid]] caterpillar or inchworm]]
Caterpillars grow through a series of [[ecdysis|moults]]; each intermediate stage is called an [[instar]].
Like all insects, caterpillars breathe through a series of small openings along the sides of their thorax and abdomen called [[spiracle]]s. These branch into the body cavity into a network of tracheae. A few caterpillars of the family [[Pyralidae]] are aquatic and have gills that let them breathe underwater.<ref>Berg, Clifford O. 1950. Biology of Certain Aquatic Caterpillars (Pyralididae: ''Nymphula'' spp.) Which Feed on ''[[Potamogeton]]''. Transactions of the American Microscopical Society. 69(3):254-266</ref>
Caterpillars have 4,000 muscles (compare humans, with 629). They move through contraction of the muscles in the rear segments pushing the blood forward into the front segments elongating the torso. The average caterpillar has 248 muscles in the head segment alone.
===Senses===
Caterpillars have good vision. They have a series of six tiny eyelets or '[[stemma|stemmata]]' on each side of the lower portion of their head. These can probably form well focused, but poorly resolved images.<ref name="scoble"/> They move their heads from side to side probably as a means of judging distance of objects, particularly plants. They rely on their short [[antenna (biology)|antennae]] to help them locate food.
Some caterpillars are able to detect vibrations, usually at a specific frequency. Caterpillars of the common [[hook-tip moth]], ''Drepana arcuata'' (Drepanoidea) produce sounds to defend their silk nests from members of their own species,<ref>Yack JE, Smith ML, and Weatherhead PJ. 2001. Caterpillar talk: Acoustically mediated territoriality in larval Lepidoptera. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 98 (20): 11371–11375.</ref> by scraping against the leaf in a ritualized acoustic duel. They detect the vibrations conducted by the plant and not air-borne sounds. Similarly, cherry leaf rollers ''[[Caloptilia]] [[serotinella]]'' defend their rolls.<ref>Fletcher LE, Yack JE, Fitzgerald TD, Hoy RR . 2006. Vibrational communication in the cherry leaf roller caterpillar ''[[Caloptilia]] serotinella'' (Gracillarioidea : Gracillariidae). Journal of Insect Behavior 19 (1): 1–18.</ref> Tent caterpillars can also detect vibrations at the frequency of wing beats of one of their natural enemies. <ref>Fitgerald, TD. 1995. The tent caterpillars. Cornell Univ. Press.</ref>
==Classification==
The [[Geometridae|geometrids]], also known as inchworms or loopers, are so named because of the way they move, appearing to measure the earth (the word ''geometrid'' means ''earth-measurer'' in [[Greek language|Greek]]); the primary reason for this unusual locomotion is the elimination of nearly all the prolegs except the clasper on the terminal segment.
Caterpillars have soft bodies that can grow rapidly, like balloons, between moults. Only the head capsule is hardened. In caterpillars, the [[mandible]]s are tough and sharp for chewing leaves; in most adult Lepidoptera, the mandibles are highly reduced, or soft. Behind the mandibles of the caterpillar are the [[spinneret]]s, for manipulating silk.
Some larvae of the [[Hymenoptera]] (ants, bees and wasps) order can appear like the caterpillars of the lepidoptera. These are mainly seen in the [[Sawfly]] family and while the larvae superficially resemble caterpillars, they can be distinguished by the presence of prolegs on every abdominal segment. Another difference is that lepidopteran caterpillars have crochets or hooks on the prolegs while these are absent on the sawfly larvae. Also in lepidopteran caterpillars is the upside down Y shaped [[suture]] on the front of the head.<ref name="scoble">Scoble, MJ. 1995. The Lepidoptera: Form, function and diversity. Oxford Univ. Press.</ref> The larvae of sawflies differ also in having prominent [[ocelli]] on the head capsule.
==Defenses==
Many animals feed on caterpillars as they are protein rich, and caterpillars have evolved various defenses.
===Appearance===
[[Image:Hairy caterpillar (Costa Rica).jpg|thumb|[[Costa Rica]]n hairy caterpillar.]]
Many caterpillars are [[crypsis|cryptically]] coloured and resemble the plants on which they feed and may even have parts that [[mimic]] plant parts such as thorns. Their size varies from as little as 1mm to about 3 inches. Some look like objects in the environment such as bird droppings. Many feed enclosed inside silk galleries, rolled leaves or by [[leaf miner|mining]] between the leaf surfaces. Caterpillars of ''Nemoria arizonaria'' that grow in spring feed on oak catkins and appear green. The summer brood however appear like oak twigs. The differential development is linked to the tannin content in the diet.<ref>Greene, Erick (1989) A Diet-Induced Developmental Polymorphism in a Caterpillar. Science 243(4891):643-646
[http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/243/4891/643 abstract]</ref>
More aggressive self-defense measures are taken by caterpillars. These caterpillars have spiny bristles or long fine hair-like [[seta]]e with detachable tips that will irritate by lodging in the skin or mucous membranes.<ref name="scoble"/> However, some birds, like [[cuckoo]]s, will swallow even the hairiest of caterpillars. The most aggressive defenses are bristles associated with [[venom]] glands, called [[urtication|urticating hairs]]; a venom among the most potent defensive chemicals in any animals is produced by the [[South America]]n [[Saturniidae|silk moth]] genus ''[[Lonomia]]''. It is an [[anticoagulant]] powerful enough to cause a human to [[hemorrhage]] to death (See [[Lonomia|Lonomiasis]]).<ref>Malaque, Ceila M. S., Lúcia Andrade, Geraldine Madalosso, Sandra Tomy, Flávio L. Tavares, And Antonio C. Seguro. 2006. A case of hemolysis resulting from contact with a ''Lonomia'' caterpillar in southern Brazil. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 74(5): 807-809</ref> This chemical is being investigated for potential medical applications. Most urticating hairs however range in effect from mild irritation to [[dermatitis]].
[[Image:Papilio cresphontes larva defensive.JPG|thumb|[[Giant swallowtail]] caterpillar everting its [[osmeterium]] in defense]]
Plants have evolved poisons to protect themselves from herbivores and some caterpillars have evolved countermeasures and eat the leaves of these toxic plants. In addition to being unaffected by the poison, they [[sequestered|sequester]] it in their body, making them highly toxic to predators. These chemicals are also carried on into the adult stages. These toxic species, such as the [[Cinnabar moth]] (''Tyria jacobaeae'') and monarch (''[[Danaus plexippus]]'') caterpillars, usually advertise themselves with brightly striped or coloured in black, red and yellow—the danger colours (see [[aposematism]]). Any predator that attempts to eat a caterpillar with an aggressive defence mechanism will learn and avoid future attempts.
Some caterpillars regurgitate acidic digestive juices at attacking enemies. Many [[Papilionidae|papilionid]] larvae produce bad smells from extrudable glands called [[osmeterium|osmeteria]].
Caterpillars can evade predators by using a silk line and dropping off from branches when disturbed.
Some caterpillars obtain protection by associating themselves with [[ant]]s. The [[Lycaenidae|Lycaenid]] butterflies are particularly well known for this. They communicate with their ant protectors by vibrations as well as chemical means <ref>Travassos, MA, and NE Pierce. 2000. Acoustics, context and function of vibrational signalling in a lycaenid butterfly–ant mutualism. Animal Behaviour 60: 13-26</ref> and typically provide food rewards.
Some caterpillars are [[gregarious]]; large aggregations are believed to help in reducing the levels of parasitization and predation.<ref>Entry, Grant L. G., Lee A. Dyer. 2002. On the Conditional Nature Of Neotropical Caterpillar Defenses against their Natural Enemies. Ecology, 83(11):3108–3119</ref> Clusters amplify the signal of aposematic coloration, and individuals may participate in group regurgitation or displays.
==Behavior==
[[Image:Pasture day moth caterpillar closeup.jpg|thumb|A [[Pasture Day Moth]] caterpillar feeding on capeweed]]
Caterpillars have been called "eating machines", and eat leaves voraciously. Most species shed their [[skin]] four or five times as their bodies grow, and they eventually [[pupa|pupate]] into an adult form. Caterpillars grow very quickly; for instance, a [[tobacco hornworm]] will increase its weight ten-thousand-fold in less than twenty days. An adaptation that enables them to eat so much is a mechanism in a specialized midgut that quickly transports ions to the lumen (midgut cavity), to keep the potassium level higher in the midgut cavity than in the blood.<ref>Chamberlin, M.E. and M.E. King (1998). Changes in midgut active ion transport and metabolism during the fifth instar of the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta). J.Exp.Zool. 280:135-141.</ref>
Most caterpillars are solely [[herbivore|herbivorous]]. Many are restricted to one species of plant, while others are polyphagous. A few, including the [[clothes moth]], feed on [[detritus]]. Most predatory caterpillars feed on eggs of other insects, aphids, scale insects, or ant larvae. Some are cannibals, and others prey on caterpillars of other species (e.g. Hawai'ian ''[[Eupithecia]]'' ). A few are parasitic on cicadas or leaf hoppers.<ref name="pierce">Pierce, N.E. 1995. Predatory and parasitic Lepidoptera: Carnivores living on plants. Journal of the Lepidopterist's Society 49 (4): 412-453</ref> Some Hawai'ian caterpillars (''[[Hyposmocoma molluscivora]]'') use silk traps to capture snails.<ref>Rubinoff, Daniel and William P. Haines. 2005. Web-Spinning Caterpillar Stalks Snails. Science 309(5734): 575. DOI: 10.1126/science.1110397</ref>
Many caterpillars are nocturnal. For example, the "cutworms" (of the [[Noctuidae]] family) hide at the base of plants during the day and only feed at night. Others, such as gypsy moth ([[Lymantria dispar]]) larvae, change their activity patterns depending on density and larval stage, with more diurnal feeding in early instars and high densities.
==Economic effects==
Caterpillar cause much damage, mainly by eating leaves. The [[cotton bollworm]] causes enormous losses. Other species eat food crops. Caterpillars have been the target of [[pest control]] through the use of [[pesticide]]s, [[biological control]] and [[agronomy|agronomic]] practices. Many species have become resistant to [[pesticide]]s. Bacterial toxins such as those from ''[[Bacillus thuringiensis]]'' which are evolved to affect the gut of Lepidoptera have been used in sprays of bacterial spores, toxin extracts and also by incorporating genes to produce them within the host plants. These approaches are defeated over time by the evolution of resistance mechanisms in the insects.
Plants evolve mechanisms of resistance to being eaten by caterpillars, including the evolution of chemical toxins and physical barriers such as hairs. Incorporating [[Plant defense against herbivory|host plant resistance]] (HPR) through plant breeding is another approach used in reducing the impact of caterpillars on crop plants.
Some caterpillars are beneficial. The [[silk]] industry is based on the [[bombyx mori|silkworm]] caterpillar.
== Health Effects ==
Caterpillar hair has been known to cause certain health effects. All species have small hairs that can irritate the skin, both through direct contact and from airborne hairs. Often, caterpillars produce venoms that are stored in these hairs as a defense against predators. Caterpillar species from approximately 12 families of moths or butterflies worldwide can inflict serious human injuries ranging from urticarial dermatitis and atopic asthma to osteochondritis, consumption coagulopathy, renal failure, and intracerebral hemorrhage.[[#Diaz2005|(Diaz 2005)]] Skin rashes are the most common, but there have been fatalities.
Caterpillar hairs have also been known to cause kerato-conjunctivitis. The sharp barbs on the end of Caterpillar hairs can get lodged in soft tissues and mucus membranes such as the eyes. Once they enter such tissues, they can be difficult to extract, often exacerbating the problem as they migrate across the membrane.[[#Patel1973|(Patel et. al. 1973)]]
This becomes a particular problem in an indoor setting. The hairs easily enter buildings through ventilation systems and accumulate in indoor environments because their small size, which makes it difficult for them to be vented out. This accumulation increases the risk of human contact in indoor environments.[[#Balit2001|(Balite et. al. 2001)]]
A 22-year old woman died in 2007, "ten days after stepping barefoot on five caterpillars while on a trip to northeastern Peru"[http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/07/14/edm-medical-case.html].
==References==
<div class="references-small"><references /></div>
<cite id=Diaz2005>14. Diaz, James H. (2005). "The Evolving Global Epidemiology, Sydromic Classification, Management, and Prevention of Caterpillar Envenoming".</cite>
<cite id=Patel1973>15. Patel RJ, Shanbhag RM. Ophthalmia nodosa - (a case report). Indian J Ophthalmol 1973;21:208</cite>
<cite id=Balit2001>16. Corrine R Balit, Helen C Ptolemy, Merilyn J Geary, Richard C Russell and Geoffrey K Isbister, (2001)“Outbreak of caterpillar dermatitis caused by airborne hairs of the mistletoe browntail moth (Euproctis edwardsi)”</cite>
==See also==
* [[Pests and diseases of roses]]
* [[Edible caterpillars]]
* [[Larval food plants of Lepidoptera]]
==External links==
{{commons|Caterpillar|Caterpillar}}
{{Wikispecies|Caterpillar|Caterpillar}}
* [http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/LarvaLocomotion.html Larva Locomotion: A Closer Look — video clips showing how monarch larvae walk]
* [http://www.learner.org/jnorth/tm/monarch/jr/KidsJourneyNorth.html More video clips from nature]
* [http://www.ibiblio.org/e-notes/VRML/blaxxun/caterpillar.htm 3D animation ''Papilio polyxenes'' larvae walking]
* [http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/ole_cpillar.htm oleander caterpillar] on the [[UF]] / [[IFAS]] Featured Creatures Web site
* [http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/orn/spotted_oleander_caterpillar.htm spotted oleander caterpillar] on the [[UF]] / [[IFAS]] Featured Creatures Web site
==Image Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:CH Caterpillar.jpg|Caterpillar of the Spurge Hawk-moth, seen in Kriegtal near Binn, Valais, Switzerland at approx. 2000m altitude.
Image:Caterpillar at 5th stage.jpg|Caterpillar of the [[Opodiphthera eucalypti|Emperor Gum Moth]].
Image:Crochets.jpg|Crochets on a caterpillar's prolegs.
Image:Actias selene 5th instar spiracles sjh.jpg|''[[Actias selene]]'' with some of the [[spiracle]]s identified.
Image:Poplar hawk-moth.jpg|A [[Laothoe populi|poplar hawk-moth caterpillar]] (a common species of caterpillar in the UK).
Image:Caterpillar face.jpg|Close-up of a caterpillar face.
Image:Lycaenid_ant_sec.jpg|Ant tending a [[lycaenidae|lycaenid]] caterpillar.
Image:Hebomoea glaucippe cat sec.jpg|Caterpillar of [[Hebomoia glaucippe|Great Orange Tip]] resembling the Common green vine snake ''[[Ahaetulla nasuta]]''.
Image:Snodgrass Schizura concinna.jpg|Life cycle of the red-humped caterpillar (''Schizura concinna'').
Image:Forest-tent-caterpillar-malacosoma-disstria.jpg|Forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria)
Image:Baby_Caterpillars.jpg|Caterpillars hatching on an apple tree in Victoria, BC, Canada
</gallery>
[[Category:Lepidoptera]]
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