Caterpillars are some of the planet’s most beloved insects, possessing the ability to transform into a creature that bears little resemblance to its previous form through the power of metamorphosis. For kids, they are a delight to discover; for gardeners, they are a bane; to all manner of birds and animals, they are a nutritious and ample meal. To avoid all of the above, caterpillars employ some very clever tactics to survive, including hiding in plain sight. Check out these five awesome examples of caterpillar camouflage and look a little closer the next time you’re outdoors!
1. Common Baron
If you never saw the caterpillar of the Common Baron butterfly, you could hardly be faulted. Just look at that incredible camouflage! This sneaky larva munches on the leaves of mango trees in India and Southeast Asia until it is ready for the chrysalis stage of its development.
2. Lime Swallowtail
Since most birds would likely find the larva of the lime swallowtail butterfly to be delectable, wearing a costume that resembles their excrement is quite a clever use of caterpillar camouflage. Named for the primarily citrus plants upon which it feeds, the lime swallowtail can be found widely throughout the world. It is also considered an invasive pest in Central America and the Caribbean.
3. Elephant Hawk-Moth
Unless you happen to be one of their predators, snakes of all kinds have established themselves in the animal kingdom as not to be trifled with. That’s what makes the Elephant Hawk-moth’s caterpillar camouflage so brilliant. Additionally, the forward end of this larva has four eye spots that resemble snake eyes. It reinforces this mimicry by retracting the rest of its body toward the head when threatened. It enlarges it and makes it appear even more snake-like.
4. Curve-Lined Owlet
If there’s one thing caterpillars have learned over time, it’s that birds and other predators don’t have much of a taste for leaves. Armed with this crucial information, the caterpillars of the Curve-lined Owlet do their best dead leaf impersonation while feeding on the leaves of greenbriers and other members of the Smilax genus along the US east coast and as far west as Montana and Texas.
5. Scalloped Hazel
Taking a cue from the Curve-lined Owlet, the larva of the scalloped hazel moth is a dead ringer for a twig on a variety of plants upon which it feeds. This gives the species some of the best caterpillar camouflage in the business.
Featured Image from Kristin Lyse/Unsplash
