It is estimated that there are over 20,000 species of caterpillars in this animal group, and there may be that many more left to be discovered.

The only job of the caterpillar is to eat, and it may increase its size by more than 1,000 times before metamorphosizing into a moth or butterfly. As the insect grows, most species will shed their skins four times. They have over 4,000 muscles in their bodies. Different species metamorphosize at unique rates ranging from 1-to-11 months.

5 Incredible Caterpillar Facts!

• There are more than 20,000 species in the world. Biologists believe that they will discover many more of these animals, with many of them being discovered in remote areas.
• Some of these insects that turn into moths can sting, but butterfly caterpillars cannot sting.
• The vast majority of them eat plants, but a few will eat insects and other caterpillars.
• They may spin a single pupa, or they may spin a cocoon around themselves before spinning an additional pupa around the cocoon.
• The caterpillar stage can last from 1-to-11 months, depending on the species.The largest caterpillars in the world can reach up to 6 inches in length!

Caterpillar Species, Types, and Scientific Name

Caterpillars are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera. Caterpillars belong to the same classification as the butterfly that they become as butterflies. This scientific name comes from the Ancient Greek language. The first part of the scientific name lepís means scale while the second part of the scientific name pterón means wing.

There are about 180,000 species in this order that biologists have placed into 126 family and 46 superfamily classifications. Only about 10% of them may still be alive. Most butterflies are in the Papilionoidea superfamily, which can be divided into several classifications, including:

• Hesperiidae – These are skipper butterflies.
• Papilionidae – There are more than 550 species in this family, including some of the world’s largest butterflies.
• Pieridae – Most members of this group that includes more than 1,100 species, develop into yellow or orange butterflies, and they usually live in the tropics in Africa and Asia.
• Riodinidae – More than 1,500 species in this family where the butterfly will have metallic-looking marks on its wings.
• Lycaenidae – There are over 6,000 members of this family, with most having blue wings and black on them.
• Nymphalidae- There are more than 6,000 members of this group who live worldwide. This is the largest group of butterflies, and it is divided into 13 superfamilies.

Appearance: How to Identify Caterpillars

In order to identify what type of caterpillar you are looking at, you need to pay attention to several different factors, including:

• Size
• Color, such as green or black
• Type of hair covering if any
• Markings, such as stripes or spots
• Presence of horns

Habitat: Where to Find Caterpillars

These insects can be found almost anywhere that there are plants for it to eat. Some species have particular habitats while others live in many different areas. Butterflies often live under leaves, in shrubs and grasses.

Diet: What Do Caterpillars Eat?

Most butterflies eat plants. Most prefer the leaves but will eat the seeds and petals if they are hungry enough. Some caterpillars also eat insects and even other caterpillars.

Caterpillar to Butterfly

A caterpillar is ready to become a butterfly the moment that it comes out of its cocoon. First, it eats a bunch of food until it reaches a predetermined size. That process can last from one-to-11 months. Then, its body releases the molting hormone ecdysone. Each time the hormone is released, the caterpillar’s body still contains juvenile hormones. Therefore, it remains a caterpillar. Each time the ecdysone hormone in the caterpillar’s body becomes stronger while juvenile hormones become less. Most caterpillars go through this process four times.

As the process is taking place, imaginal discs have started to emerge from the caterpillar’s body. After the juvenile hormone level drops below a certain threshold and the ecdysone hormone rises above a particular level, the caterpillar forms a chrysalis. The developing imaginal discs grow quickly into a sock shape. Each imaginal disc becomes a part of the butterfly’s body, and most of the caterpillar is transformed into the butterfly.

One more burst of ecdysone hormone occurs, and the adult butterfly emerges.

Prevention: How to Get Rid of Caterpillar

It is important to remember that not all of these insects are harmful, but they may harm plants in farm fields or your garden. If you notice them in an area where you want to get rid of them, then there are at least four methods that you may want to try.

First, you can hand pick them off your plants. This method is most effective if you have a small area and catch caterpillars in the area when there are only a few. Sometimes, spraying the area with water is an effective way to encourage caterpillars to move on.

Secondly, if the insect has built nests, you can use a stick or other object to knock down the nest and tear it apart. You need to destroy the nests so that the eggs inside them do not turn into more caterpillars. Since caterpillars usually return to the nest at night, this method works best when done in the evening or early morning.

Third, you can use Bacillus thuringiensis to kill them. Bacillus thuringiensis is a soil bacterium that destroys the stomach of caterpillars.

Another option is to make a deterrent at home. Take a little molasses and mix it with water and dish soap. Spray it where you see these insects. They do not like the taste, and they will move on to another area.

View all 157 animals that start with C