Caterpillar Defense

Did you know that when the Swallowtail Caterpillar is born it looks like a bird dropping? No bird wants to eat that!

And did you know that the Monarch caterpillar is poisonous? It is poisonous because it eats milkweed, which is a poisonous plant. No bird wants to eat that!

And did you know that most caterpillars spin a safety string? If a predator wants to eat it, the caterpillar can use its safety string and fall down from a leaf. Then the bird can not eat it. When it is clear, the caterpillar can climb up the string.

And did you know that some caterpillars make sounds to scare their enemies? The Death's-head caterpillar of Africa will start clicking and it will scare the bird. The bird will drop the caterpillar and fly away.

And did you know that the Green Grappler Caterpillar squeezes its enemies? It looks like a twig. When an insect touches the bristles on its back it swings around and gets it. Most of the time their prey is heavier than they are.