Description of caterpillars, their food and structure

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

Appearance and anatomy of an insect

Caterpillars not an independent group of numerous representatives of the fauna. These are the larvae of representatives of the order Lepidoptera.Answering the question - a caterpillar is an insect or not, we can definitely answer that yes, because this is a definite, that is, larval stage of its development. Butterflies are distributed almost all over the planet, especially in those 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 climates.

On a note!

The largest number of lepidoptera is in the hot tropical belts, where the most favorable conditions for their livelihoods. Several hundred species of caterpillars are distributed throughout Russia.

The caterpillar biology is complex and diverse. To determine the type of insect, first of all it is necessary to pay attention to its color, body size, number of limbs, length and thickness of hairs, food features, as well as other specific features. Depending on the species, the length of the pest varies from a few mm to 12 cm. The body of the insect includes: a head, 3 thoracic and 10 abdominal parts with legs on them.

Caterpillar structure

The head of the caterpillar is 6 parts merged with each other, 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 the heart.
• For most insects, the round shape is typical. However, some species have triangular, rectangular or heart-shaped heads.
• Caterpillars, like other insect larvae, have a primitive brain. Parietal areas can significantly protrude above the surface of the body, forming a kind of "horns".
• On the lateral surfaces of the body are miniature antennae antenna.
• Considering the structure of the caterpillar can be seen that all insects are different gnawing mouth apparatus. They have well developed upper jaws, which are provided with teeth, which allow nibbling and tearing food. Inside the mouth are bumps with which insects chew food. The salivary glands are a specific spinning plant that allows the silkworm to form a thread. The mandibles and the lip are merged into a single complex.

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

Caterpillar

The trunk of most species is soft, enclosed in a membranous cover. This provides the insect with good mobility. Lovers of fauna are often interested in such a question - how many muscles of a caterpillar. Biologists claim that the muscular corset of the larva has 4000 muscles, of which 250 are located in the head. The anal opening is located on the last part of the body, surrounded by special lobes. The caterpillar (except for waterfowl representatives) has one spiracle located on the chest.

On a note!

Many are interested in how many legs a caterpillar has. Most representatives of the order Lepidoptera have 3 pairs of well-developed chest legs and 5 pairs of false abdominal limbs, ending in small hooks. They can be placed in longitudinal, transverse rows or in the form of a circle. The chest legs of the caterpillar are provided with a sole with a claw, which the insect draws in or pulls out during movement.

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

Caterpillars have protective mechanisms in the form of easily separated hairs that irritate the skin. Exist poisonous caterpillarsthat produce a burning liquid or accumulate poison in the body.

Life cycle

In its development all representatives of the order Lepidoptera pass through 4 stages: egg, caterpillar, pupa, butterfly. After mating, insect females lay eggs, which can develop from several days to months. The duration of the period depends on the temperature conditions. Caterpillar easily gnaws the shell of the egg. Under adverse weather conditions, the larva winters in the egg and only when spring comes, appears outside. Voracious caterpillars often eat the remnants of their "shelter".

Caterpillars

How many 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 for several days or years.This is due to the fact that northern butterflies hibernate, without completing the cycle of its development.

Interesting!

A butterfly butterfly that lives in the harsh northern regions may be in the caterpillar stage for about 14 years.

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

On a note!

A molting caterpillar can molt 4 and 40 times.

Before the beginning of this process, it stops feeding, becomes immobile and hides in secluded places. Their skin is stretched, as if the head is reduced in size. Dropping the old shell, the caterpillar can eat it. Having passed all the stages of molting, insects move to a new life stage.

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

How the caterpillar lives and how it feeds

Caterpillar feeding

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

Interesting!

Hawaiian moth larvae have a unique ability to exist both in air and under water.

Depending on the preferred living conditions, the caterpillars are divided into 2 categories - leading a hidden and free lifestyle. In accordance with this classification, it is easy to determine where one insect larvae live. The leading hidden existence includes such representatives of caterpillars: leaf-holders, underground, miners, etc.

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

Their nutrition, depending on the affiliation to one or another species, is quite diverse. The hatched larva first eats the shell of the egg, and then proceeds to its usual diet. The caterpillars feed on the leaves, flowers and fruits of plants.However, in nature there are insects that prefer other forms of food. In accordance with this feature, the larvae are divided into the following 4 groups:

• polyphages - feed on any vegetation;
• oligophages - give preference to plants of a certain type;
• monophagous - eat strictly certain types of plants;
• Xylophagous - use only wood.

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

For humans, the caterpillar is primarily a pest that causes enormous damage to cultural greenery. but silkworm plays a huge role in the production of silk. Insects are widely used in Chinese folk medicine. A specific insect larvae are also used to control weeds.

Interesting!

In China, India, the countries of North America, Africa and other places where the caterpillars eat, they are considered a recognized delicacy and are more expensive than meat. Insect-rich larvae are used for food in raw, fried, candied and canned form.

Larvae have many natural enemies in nature. The most dangerous for them are birds.Thus, the tit tit, which eats caterpillars and uses them to feed chicks, can kill up to 30 thousand insect larvae in a season. The wasps feed their offspring with the chewed caterpillars or, paralyzing them with poison, prepare for future use. At the same time, if all the larvae were alive, then after about 7 years, only the offspring of one butterfly would exceed the mass of the entire globe.