caterpillar

caterpillar

the larval stage of insects of the Lepidoptera family.

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army caterpillar

see pseudoletia separata.

caterpillar cell

see anitschkow cell.

Eastern tent caterpillar

(Malcosoma americanum) is the suspected cause of mare reproductive loss syndrome. Eggs overwinter on branches in large egg masses and hatch to form larvae that live as social insects in 'tents' from which they emerge to feed on leaves until approximately 2 inches in 4 to 6 weeks, after which they pupate to form a moth. Larvae (caterpillars) are hairy and black with a white stripe on the back and yellow stripes on the sides. Moths are red/brown with two diagonal stripes on each wing.

hairy caterpillar

see hairy caterpillars.