To identify caterpillars, it is important to take note of their size, color, type of bristles or spines, and habitat. Although not all species of caterpillars are venomous, they can do tremendous damage to plant foliage. After hatching from eggs, caterpillars are ravenous eaters and mainly consume plant and tree leaves. Before picking up any kind of caterpillar, it is important to identify the species to know if it is harmless or not.Īll caterpillars are larvae that belong to the order of moths and butterflies called Lepidoptera in the class of Insecta. Handling one of these dangerous caterpillars could leave you with a nasty sting similar to a bee’s sting. Caterpillars that are toxic and sting are generally hairy or have spikes on their bodies. While most types of caterpillars are harmless, there are some species of stinging caterpillars. Many variables may contribute to changes in the caterpillar’s coloration, including larval stage, food availability, the temperature or moisture during their development, age, and even species.Email Pinterest Facebook Twitter Linkedin However, today’s entomologists say no one has been able to replicate the study.Ĭurrent insect experts agree that woolly bear caterpillars are not accurate predictors of winter weather. His studies showed that the woolly bear caterpillars had an 80 percent accuracy rate. Curran, former curator of insects at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, surveyed the bugs back in the 1950s. There has actually been some research pertaining to this old wives’ tale. Dr. If there is a lot of brown, the winter will be mild If there is only a narrow strip of brown on their backs, expect a harsh winter. The old tale goes like this: the thickness of the brown stripe on the caterpillar will tell you how harsh the upcoming winter will be. One of the most widespread tales pertains to the big furry coat of the woolly bear caterpillar.
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