Caterpillars

General Info:

Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture. Many moth species are better known in their caterpillar stages because of the damage they cause to fruits and other agricultural produce.

Physique:

Many caterpillars are cryptically colored and resemble the plants on which they feed. They may even have parts that mimic plant parts such as thorns. Their size varies from as little as 1 mm to about 75 millimetres (3.0 in). Some look like objects in the environment such as bird droppings.

Diet:

They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars have been called "eating machines", and eat leaves voraciously.

Distribution:

Caterpillars are found all over the world and in all types of environments: hot and cold, dry and moist, at sea level and high in the mountains. Most caterpillars species, however, are found in tropical areas, especially tropical rainforests.