Caterpillars - The Beautiful Creature

Kids, have you seen any insects crawling in your garden? Today we will talk about a very cute insect, a caterpillar. The larva or baby of butterflies is known as caterpillar. Caterpillar word formed from the Latin word catta pilosa which means hairy cat. We can easily identify caterpillars, but sometimes, it is confused with some worms like cabbage worms. They have three body parts, the head, thorax, and abdomen, and two antennae on their head.

In this article, we are going to discuss caterpillar facts for kids, caterpillar kids, and parts of a caterpillar. So, let us learn about this beautiful creature.

Caterpillar

Physical Features of Caterpillar

Parts of the Body

Caterpillars have three body parts, the head, thorax, and abdomen, and two antennae on their head. There are 12to 13 segments after the head of caterpillars. They have three pairs of permanent legs. One pair is present in each first three segments. The legs are commonly hard and jointed. 

In some caterpillars, tiny claws are present at the tip, but it is absent in some of them. They have five pairs of soft, thick legs to support the rest of their body. These legs are disappeared when caterpillars are converted into moths or butterflies. There are six tiny eyes on each side of the head. There are nine small openings on their body for breathing purposes. These are known as the trachea.

Size of the Caterpillar

The size of the caterpillar can vary from less than an inch to a few inches. The hawk moth caterpillar is one of the largest caterpillars. It can be 4 inches long. The cloth moth caterpillar is the smallest. It is 0.25 inches in size.

Defence Mechanisms

Caterpillars are tiny insects, but God has gifted them some tricks to defend themselves from birds and insects. Some caterpillars have the same colour as their surroundings. Some have dots on their bodies which give them a bigger size appearance. Few caterpillars release foul smells, which keep the attackers away. Some of them have poisonous hair on their body.

Where do Caterpillars Come From?

A caterpillar comes from the eggs laid by the female butterfly. It grows at a faster rate. After some time, a caterpillar comes out by splitting the skin. The process is known as moulting. This process occurs four to five times. Some caterpillars eat up the old skin that they have left out. 

Lifecycle of Caterpillars to Butterflies for Kids

Now, let's talk about the life cycle of a caterpillar. The process by which a caterpillar converts into a butterfly is called metamorphosis. Some caterpillars soon transform into butterflies, but some take years to convert. There are four stages:

1. Egg

2. Caterpillar (larva)

3. Chrysalis (pupa)

4. Butterfly (adult)

Egg

An egg is the first stage of the life cycle. Generally, eggs are laid by female butterflies on leaves. Eggs can be different in size, shape, and colour, but they are always small. This stage is between 3 and 7 days, depending on the species of the butterfly.

Larva

The larva is the next stage. In this stage, the tiny caterpillar hatches from the egg. Caterpillars spend most of their time eating and growing. They shed their skin when they grow. The larval stage lasts 2 or more weeks, depending on the species, available food, and other environmental conditions.

Pupa

The next stage is the pupa. It is also known as a chrysalis. Chrysalises are different for different species of butterflies. Many caterpillars hang upside down during this stage This stage is of a week or two.

Adult

The last stage is the adult stage. Now, it is a butterfly. Butterflies come out from their chrysalises and dry their wings. Then they can fly. Butterflies are of different shapes, sizes, and colours. Generally, this stage is 2 to 3 weeks, but few species live for a few months. Next, they find a mate and lay eggs, and life starts again.

Butterfly life Cycle

Caterpillar Pictures with Names

Now let us have a look at caterpillar pictures with names.

Caterpillar Names with Pictures

Summary

The baby of butterflies is called caterpillars. They are considered insects. They have two antennae on their head and three body parts the head, thorax, and abdomen. There are  Three pairs of permanent legs they have. Their size can vary from less than an inch to a few inches. Some of them show defence mechanisms like poisonous body hair and bad smell released when they are in danger. Caterpillar is converted into a butterfly in four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. In this article, we read about caterpillar facts for kids and parts of a caterpillar.