What is a caterpillar?
Q: What is a caterpillar?
A: A caterpillar is a young butterfly or moth that has just hatched out of its egg.
Q: What is a pupa?
A: A pupa is the stage in which a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly or moth.
Q: How many legs do caterpillars have?
A: Caterpillars usually have three pairs of small, but noticeable, true legs at the front and up to 5 pairs of fleshy false legs at the back.
Q: What do caterpillars eat?
A: Caterpillars are commonly found feeding on leaves, but they are also found inside living stems and branches or on the roots of plants and dead wood.
Q: What colors are most caterpillars?
A: Most caterpillars are shades of green or brown and are relatively hairless, although in many families caterpillars are very hairy and often brightly coloured.
Q: What are some things that certain species of caterpillars can damage?
A: Some species are pests of growing plants, carpets, woollens, organic fabrics and stored food products.
Q: What role do caterpillars have in nature?
A: Caterpillars are an important source of food for birds and other invertebrates and many species help dead animals and plants decompose.
