Macro Footage Of A Colorful Caterpillar Chewing On A Stem

Surely you've seen a caterpillar in your lifetime, and you've probably even handled one, but how much do you know about Lepidopteran larvae? These cool facts about caterpillars will give you new respect for what remarkable creatures they are.

A Caterpillar Has Just One Job—to Eat
During the larval stage, the caterpillar must consume enough to sustain itself through its pupal stage and into adulthood. Without proper nutrition, it may not have the energy to complete its metamorphosis. Malnourished caterpillars may reach adulthood but be unable to produce eggs. Caterpillars can eat an enormous amount during a life cycle stage that typically lasts several weeks. Some consume 27,000 times

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Science, Tech, Math › Animals & Nature
10 Fascinating Facts About Caterpillars
Interesting Behaviors and Traits You Probably Never Knew
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Monarch caterpillar eating milkweed
Adam Skowronski / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0
By Debbie Hadley
Updated on March 05, 2020
Surely you've seen a caterpillar in your lifetime, and you've probably even handled one, but how much do you know about Lepidopteran larvae? These cool facts about caterpillars will give you new respect for what remarkable creatures they are.

A Caterpillar Has Just One Job—to Eat
During the larval stage, the caterpillar must consume enough to sustain itself through its pupal stage and into adulthood. Without proper nutrition, it may not have the energy to complete its metamorphosis. Malnourished caterpillars may reach adulthood but be unable to produce eggs. Caterpillars can eat an enormous amount during a life cycle stage that typically lasts several weeks. Some consume 27,000 times their body weight during their lifetime.1

Caterpillars Increase Their Body Mass by as Much as 1,000 Times or More
The larval stage of the life cycle is all about growth. Within the span of a few weeks, the caterpillar will grow exponentially.2 Because its cuticle, or skin, is only so pliable, the caterpillar will molt multiple times as it gains size and mass. The stage between molts is called an instar, and most caterpillars go through 5 to 6 instars before pupating.3 No wonder caterpillars consume so much food!

A Caterpillar's First Meal Is Usually Its Eggshell
In most cases, when a caterpillar ecloses (hatches) from its egg, it will consume the remainder of the shell. The outer layer of the egg, called the chorion, is rich in protein and provides the new larva with a nutritious start.