:''This article is about insect larvae. For the company, see Caterpillar Inc.; for the vehicle locomotion systems, see caterpillar track (land) or Magnetohydrodynamic drive (water).'' ---- [[Image:Caterpillar at 5th stage.jpg|thumb|250px|The striking caterpillar of the Emperor Gum Moth]] A caterpillar is the larval form of a lepidopteran (a member of the insect order comprising butterfly and moths). Caterpillars have long segmented bodies and many sets of "legs". They eat leaves voraciously, grow rapidly, shed their skins generally four or five times, and eventually pupate into an adult form. Caterpillars have six true legs (being hexapoda) on the thorax, up to four pairs of prolegs on the middle segments of the abdomen, and sometimes a single pair of prolegs on the last abdominal segment. The sawfly larva (Hymenoptera) superficially resembles a caterpillar, but can usually be distinguished because the caterpillar has a gap between true legs and prolegs, whereas the sawfly does not. Another difference is that lepidopteran caterpillars have crochets or hooks on the prolegs. The gap between the prolegs and the true legs can vary from a slight gap in some species to a large gap in families such as the geometridae. The geometrids, also known as inchworms or loopers, are so named because of the way they locomote, appearing to measure the earth (the word 'geometrid' means 'earth-measurer' in Greek language). [[image:monarchcatterpillarsm.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Caterpillar of the monarch butterfly]] Caterpillars do not breathe through their mouths. Air enters their bodies through a series of small tubules along the sides of their thorax and abdomen. These tubules are called 'spiracles', and inside the body they connect together into a network of airtubes or 'tracheae'. Caterpillars do not have very good eyesight or senses. Rather than having fully-developed eyes they have a series of six tiny eyelets or 'ocelli' on the lower portion of their head. They rely on their antenna (biology)e to help them locate food. Many species of birds and animals consider caterpillars to be a tasty protein snack, so the caterpillars have evolved several methods of protecting and/or camouflaging themselves. These methods can be either passive, aggressive, or both. Some caterpillars have large 'false eyes' towards the rear of their abdomen. This is an attempt to convince predators that their back is actually their front, giving them an opportunity to escape to the 'rear' when attacked. Others have a body coloration that closely resembles their food plant. More aggressive self-defence measures are taken by the spitfires and hairy caterpillars. These caterpillars have spiny bristles or long fine hairs that will irritate anything that brushes against them, or spit acidic digestive juices at potential enemies. However, some birds, like cuckoos, will swallow the hairiest of caterpillars. A final grouping of caterpillars eat the leaves of plants that are toxic to other animals. They are unaffected by the poison themselves, but it builds up in their system, making them highly toxic to anything that eats one of them. These toxic species, such as the Cinnabar moth (''Tyria jacobaeae'') caterpillars, are brightly striped or coloured in red and yellow - the 'danger' colours. The aim of all these aggressive defense measures is to assure that any predator that eats (or tries to eat) one of them will not be in a hurry to repeat the experience. Some caterpillars obtain protection by associating themselves with ants. The Lycaenid butterflies are particularly well known. Recent findings have shown that they communicate with their ant protectors by means of vibrations as well as chemical means. Some caterpillars are considered serious pests of agriculture or forestry. The include the Small White butterfly (brassicas), the Pine Butterfly, and the Codling Moth (apples). == Literature and art == * Children's stories ** Hookah-smoking caterpillar: Lewis Carroll's ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' ** ''The Very Hungry Caterpillar'', 1969, Eric Carle. * Popular song ** ''Inch worm'' by Frank Loesser, (from the motion picture ''Hans Christian Andersen (movie)'') * TV series ** Arthur in Willo the Wisp ** The Screamapillar in The Simpsons * Music ** Caterpillar is a song by the live electronica band The Disco Biscuits [http://www.discobiscuits.net/songs.php?id=243] == Additional Photos == {| | | |} ''For a series of photographs showing caterpillar life-cycle, see Emperor Gum Moth - 'Additional Photos''' insectsButterflies
Possibly useful bits from a dup: "By Don Herbison-Evans Did you know: Caterpillars have several thousand muscles (humans only have about 500) Caterpillars from the family TORTRICIDAE can move backwards faster than they can move forwards. Caterpillars from most species in the family SPHINGIDAE have a wicked-looking spine on the tail, but it is in fact entirely harmless. Caterpillars from species in the genus Doratifera have pockets of stinging spines that they evert when they feel threatened. These caterpillars are often called Spitfires, but they do not actually spit. When threatened, caterpillars of species in the family PAPILIONIDAE evert a pair of horns from behind the head which produce a pungent aromatic smell, but which are entirely harmless. Caterpillars from species in the genus Triodes feed on poisonous plants, and accumulate the poisons in their body making them poisonous to predators like birds. Whilst most species of caterpillars feed on leaves, some burrow into the soil feeding on roots, some bore into trees eating the wood, and caterpillars of the moth Argyrotoxa pompica feed on Koala droppings. The caterpillars of some species will eat nearly any leaves put in front of them, and some eat only plants of one family, but caterpillars of Leptocnaria reducta will eat only leaves from the Cape Lilac Tree (Melia azedarach). The female moths of the Australian species Teia anartoides have no wings, and the species disperses by the young caterpillars making an open gossamer sail out of silk, and sailing away on it in the wind. The scientific name for a Caterpillar is Larva (plural Larvae). This name is presumably taken from that of the Roman spirits called Larvae, probably because butterflies and moths might be viewed as the spirits of the Caterpillars from which they come. Most insect taxonomy and identification has been performed on the adult insect forms, the imagos. This makes the identification of Caterpillars difficult. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpillar
http://www.usyd.edu.au/macleay/larvae/larvae.html
http://www.usyd.edu.au/macleay/larvae/overseas.html " User:Stan Shebs 07:41, 20 Apr 2004 (UTC)
== Re: Hair == Even if we were to disregard the fact that this "hair miracle" is neither encyclopedic nor remarkable, it would still qualify as original research. This fact alone would disqualify the text from inclusion; see Wikipedia:No original research for more information. That said, I should point out that my reversion of your text was not censorship. I was reverting in my capacity as a regular user, just as you added the text as a regular user. Administrators do not have special authority over an article; we simply have a few extra tools that make dealing with problem users (such as vandals and trolls) a bit less taxing. Anyone is free to add or remove anything, but remember the notice at the bottom of every edit screen: If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly and redistributed at will, do not submit it. I will also point out that I am not the only one to disagree with the appropriateness of your text: User:GRAHAMUK has also removed your "hair miracle". (I have no interest in meeting this woman in person.) Simply put, this woman's story has no place in an encyclopedia. If you'd like to learn more about contributing to the project, I recommend starting at our Wikipedia:Welcome, newcomers. -- User:Hadal 13:44, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
Words begining with Caterpillar:
Caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars
Caterpillar_at_Craters_of_the_Moon_National_Monument.jpeg
Caterpillar_Company
Caterpillar_D10
Caterpillar_D11
Caterpillar_D6
Caterpillar_D9
Caterpillar_D9
Caterpillar_drive
Caterpillar_Inc.
Caterpillar_Inc.
Caterpillar_Incorporated
Caterpillar_track
Caterpillar_tracks
Caterpillar_Tractor_Company
Caterpillar_vehicles
Caterpillar
:''This article is about insect larvae. For the company, see Caterpillar Inc.; for the vehicle locomotion systems, see caterpillar track (land) or Magnetohydrodynamic drive (water).'' ---- [[Image:Caterpillar at 5th stage.jpg|thumb|250px|The striking caterpillar of the Emperor Gum Moth]] A caterpillar is the larval form of a lepidopteran (a member of the insect order comprising butterfly and moths). Caterpillars have long segmented bodies and many sets of "legs". They eat leaves voraciously, grow rapidly, shed their skins generally four or five times, and eventually pupate into an adult form. Caterpillars have six true legs (being hexapoda) on the thorax, up to four pairs of prolegs on the middle segments of the abdomen, and sometimes a single pair of prolegs on the last abdominal segment. The sawfly larva (Hymenoptera) superficially resembles a caterpillar, but can usually be distinguished because the caterpillar has a gap between true legs and prolegs, whereas the sawfly does not. Another difference is that lepidopteran caterpillars have crochets or hooks on the prolegs. The gap between the prolegs and the true legs can vary from a slight gap in some species to a large gap in families such as the geometridae. The geometrids, also known as inchworms or loopers, are so named because of the way they locomote, appearing to measure the earth (the word 'geometrid' means 'earth-measurer' in Greek language). [[image:monarchcatterpillarsm.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Caterpillar of the monarch butterfly]] Caterpillars do not breathe through their mouths. Air enters their bodies through a series of small tubules along the sides of their thorax and abdomen. These tubules are called 'spiracles', and inside the body they connect together into a network of airtubes or 'tracheae'. Caterpillars do not have very good eyesight or senses. Rather than having fully-developed eyes they have a series of six tiny eyelets or 'ocelli' on the lower portion of their head. They rely on their antenna (biology)e to help them locate food. Many species of birds and animals consider caterpillars to be a tasty protein snack, so the caterpillars have evolved several methods of protecting and/or camouflaging themselves. These methods can be either passive, aggressive, or both. Some caterpillars have large 'false eyes' towards the rear of their abdomen. This is an attempt to convince predators that their back is actually their front, giving them an opportunity to escape to the 'rear' when attacked. Others have a body coloration that closely resembles their food plant. More aggressive self-defence measures are taken by the spitfires and hairy caterpillars. These caterpillars have spiny bristles or long fine hairs that will irritate anything that brushes against them, or spit acidic digestive juices at potential enemies. However, some birds, like cuckoos, will swallow the hairiest of caterpillars. A final grouping of caterpillars eat the leaves of plants that are toxic to other animals. They are unaffected by the poison themselves, but it builds up in their system, making them highly toxic to anything that eats one of them. These toxic species, such as the Cinnabar moth (''Tyria jacobaeae'') caterpillars, are brightly striped or coloured in red and yellow - the 'danger' colours. The aim of all these aggressive defense measures is to assure that any predator that eats (or tries to eat) one of them will not be in a hurry to repeat the experience. Some caterpillars obtain protection by associating themselves with ants. The Lycaenid butterflies are particularly well known. Recent findings have shown that they communicate with their ant protectors by means of vibrations as well as chemical means. Some caterpillars are considered serious pests of agriculture or forestry. The include the Small White butterfly (brassicas), the Pine Butterfly, and the Codling Moth (apples). == Literature and art == * Children's stories ** Hookah-smoking caterpillar: Lewis Carroll's ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' ** ''The Very Hungry Caterpillar'', 1969, Eric Carle. * Popular song ** ''Inch worm'' by Frank Loesser, (from the motion picture ''Hans Christian Andersen (movie)'') * TV series ** Arthur in Willo the Wisp ** The Screamapillar in The Simpsons * Music ** Caterpillar is a song by the live electronica band The Disco Biscuits [http://www.discobiscuits.net/songs.php?id=243] == Additional Photos == {| | | |} ''For a series of photographs showing caterpillar life-cycle, see Emperor Gum Moth - 'Additional Photos''' insectsButterflies
Caterpillar
Possibly useful bits from a dup: "By Don Herbison-Evans Did you know: Caterpillars have several thousand muscles (humans only have about 500) Caterpillars from the family TORTRICIDAE can move backwards faster than they can move forwards. Caterpillars from most species in the family SPHINGIDAE have a wicked-looking spine on the tail, but it is in fact entirely harmless. Caterpillars from species in the genus Doratifera have pockets of stinging spines that they evert when they feel threatened. These caterpillars are often called Spitfires, but they do not actually spit. When threatened, caterpillars of species in the family PAPILIONIDAE evert a pair of horns from behind the head which produce a pungent aromatic smell, but which are entirely harmless. Caterpillars from species in the genus Triodes feed on poisonous plants, and accumulate the poisons in their body making them poisonous to predators like birds. Whilst most species of caterpillars feed on leaves, some burrow into the soil feeding on roots, some bore into trees eating the wood, and caterpillars of the moth Argyrotoxa pompica feed on Koala droppings. The caterpillars of some species will eat nearly any leaves put in front of them, and some eat only plants of one family, but caterpillars of Leptocnaria reducta will eat only leaves from the Cape Lilac Tree (Melia azedarach). The female moths of the Australian species Teia anartoides have no wings, and the species disperses by the young caterpillars making an open gossamer sail out of silk, and sailing away on it in the wind. The scientific name for a Caterpillar is Larva (plural Larvae). This name is presumably taken from that of the Roman spirits called Larvae, probably because butterflies and moths might be viewed as the spirits of the Caterpillars from which they come. Most insect taxonomy and identification has been performed on the adult insect forms, the imagos. This makes the identification of Caterpillars difficult. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caterpillar
http://www.usyd.edu.au/macleay/larvae/larvae.html
http://www.usyd.edu.au/macleay/larvae/overseas.html " User:Stan Shebs 07:41, 20 Apr 2004 (UTC)
Caterpillar
== Re: Hair == Even if we were to disregard the fact that this "hair miracle" is neither encyclopedic nor remarkable, it would still qualify as original research. This fact alone would disqualify the text from inclusion; see Wikipedia:No original research for more information. That said, I should point out that my reversion of your text was not censorship. I was reverting in my capacity as a regular user, just as you added the text as a regular user. Administrators do not have special authority over an article; we simply have a few extra tools that make dealing with problem users (such as vandals and trolls) a bit less taxing. Anyone is free to add or remove anything, but remember the notice at the bottom of every edit screen: If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly and redistributed at will, do not submit it. I will also point out that I am not the only one to disagree with the appropriateness of your text: User:GRAHAMUK has also removed your "hair miracle". (I have no interest in meeting this woman in person.) Simply put, this woman's story has no place in an encyclopedia. If you'd like to learn more about contributing to the project, I recommend starting at our Wikipedia:Welcome, newcomers. -- User:Hadal 13:44, 4 Feb 2005 (UTC)
See other meanings of words starting from letter:
C
CA | CB | CD | CE | CF | CG | CH | CI | CJ | CK | CL | CM | CN | CO | CP | CR | CS | CT | CU | CW | CX | CY | CZ |Words begining with Caterpillar:
Caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars
Caterpillar_at_Craters_of_the_Moon_National_Monument.jpeg
Caterpillar_Company
Caterpillar_D10
Caterpillar_D11
Caterpillar_D6
Caterpillar_D9
Caterpillar_D9
Caterpillar_drive
Caterpillar_Inc.
Caterpillar_Inc.
Caterpillar_Incorporated
Caterpillar_track
Caterpillar_tracks
Caterpillar_Tractor_Company
Caterpillar_vehicles
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