Talk:Caterpillar

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(I think this article is great! Maybe it can turn into a featured article.) --spiralhighway 22:50, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

The article is good but wouldn have to be expanded significantly to be a featured article. --Mad Max 22:53, 11 June 2006 (UTC)

No Scientific Classification? --Domthedude001 22:41, 15 April 2006 (UTC)


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 "

Stan 07:41, 20 Apr 2004 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Caterpillars in the arctic

Is the life cycle of the caterpillar speeded up in the arctic to compensate for the short summer? Does anyone know how the eggs survive over the winter? CambridgeBayWeather 09:29, 27 August 2005 (UTC)

  • At least one Lepidopteran, the Lymantriid Gynaeophora groenlandica takes 13 years or so to develop from egg to pupa. So no, not necessarily! Satyrium 23:50, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
    • Wow, there needs to be an entry on Wikipedia for that species. Also...I must say that caterpillars are some of the most varied and most beautiful animals I have ever seen.The_Irrelevant_One 15:32, 9 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Lifetime

How long do caterpillars / butterflies live?

  • It depends on the temperature and species. Satyrium 23:51, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Brains

Caterpillars don't have brains, is this true?

  • No. Caterpillars definitely have brains. It's very easy to find scientific articles via google referring to caterpillar brains (e.g. [1])Average Earthman 08:34, 25 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Picture help

Can anyone identify this? Image:CaterpillarJM.jpg I took the photo last week, in Aberlady, East Lothian, Scotland. Obviously if it is any use to an article, feel free to put it up. --Guinnog 18:28, 15 July 2006 (UTC)

There is a video of a caterpillar on YouTube named "Bolivia Bug" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeNggIGSKH8&NR). I have never seen anthing like it. Does anybody know what kinda of caterpillar it is? 11:47, 4 Aug 2006 (CST)

[edit] Citation style

The standard citation style in Biology is Harvard references; please keep the citations in this format, as per the guidelines on Wikipedia:Citing sources . Thanks.Satyrium 15:03, 5 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] identification

Hi. I just added a picture taken in Costa Rica of a hairy caterpillar. I was wondering if anybody might know the species... it would be appreciated. --Storkk 09:45, 8 October 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Evolution

Hey, does Wikipedia endorse evolution? This article makes a reference to evolution, and I am wondering if that is considered POV. If it is, I would be glad to reword the article in a more factual manner. I, personally, think evolution is as much a theory as creation, and that Wikipedia should stick to a factual basis. Stormy 2021 03:25, 5 December 2006 (UTC)

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