News tagged with caterpillars
Winged predators seek certain trees when foraging for caterpillars
Location matters for birds on the hunt for caterpillars, according to researchers at UC Irvine and Wesleyan University. Findings suggest that chickadees and others zero in on the type of tree as much as the characteristics ...
Jan 26, 2012 |
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Researchers discover 'green' pesticide effective against citrus pests
University of Florida researchers have discovered a key amino acid essential for human nutrition is also an effective insecticide against caterpillars that threaten the citrus industry.
Jan 17, 2012 |
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Researchers document caterpillars that mimic one another for survival
(PhysOrg.com) -- In the world of insects, high risk of attack has led to the development of camouflage as a means for survival, especially in the larval stage. One caterpillar may look like a stick, while another disguises ...
Dec 15, 2011 |
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New butterfly species identified in Yucatan peninsula
About 160,000 species of butterflies and moths are already known, but scientists believe that a similar number still remain undiscovered. Identification and characterization of these species can be complicated by the fact ...
Nov 23, 2011 |
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Chemical weapon in spider silk repels ant attack: study
Researchers have shown for the first time how Golden orb web spiders (Nephila antipodiana) add a chemical to their web silk to repel invading ants.
Nov 23, 2011 |
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Parasitoid larvae in caterpillars affect behaviour of moths
(PhysOrg.com) -- Parasitoid larvae that feed within caterpillars that eat cabbage plants influence the plant via the caterpillar, making the cabbage plant an unattractive prospect for moths looking for a spot ...
Nov 16, 2011 |
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Misleading morphology: Three European parasitoid wasp 'species' are seasonal forms of just one
Three widely differing forms of European Scambus parasitoid wasps that had previously been regarded as distinct species are shown to be seasonal morphs of a single species. The collaboration involved National ...
Oct 26, 2011 |
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New bacteria toxins against resistant insect pests
Toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria (Bt toxins) are used in organic and conventional farming to manage pest insects. Sprayed as pesticides or produced in genetically modified plants, Bt toxins, us ...
Oct 19, 2011 |
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Insect gut microbe with a molecular iron reservoir
Microbes are omnipresent on earth. They are found as free-living microorganisms as well as in communities with other higher organisms. Thanks to modern biological techniques we are now able to address the ...
Sep 01, 2011 |
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Researchers identify insect resistance to Bt pesticide
For the first time, researchers have identified how cabbage looper caterpillars in the field develop resistance to the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), which naturally occurs in the soil and on plants ...
Aug 30, 2011 |
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Low oxygen triggers moth molt
A new explanation for one of nature's most mysterious processes, the transformation of caterpillars into moths or butterflies, might best be described as breathless.
Aug 22, 2011 |
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Flower power puts a hurt on caterpillars
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists in Peoria, Ill., are investigating the pest-fighting potential of anthocyanins, healthful chemical compounds in the form of plant pigments that give blueberries, plums, grapes ...
Aug 16, 2011 |
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Barcodes refocus understanding of ecosystems
You're probably familiar with barcodes, those black and white stripes on most store items that bring about the familiar "beep" when scanned at checkout. They determine whether a scanned item is a gallon of ...
Aug 12, 2011 |
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Mortal combat is the rational choice for wasps
(PhysOrg.com) -- Males of an unusual group of wasps fight to the death over females, even if they've already mated or are competing with their own brothers, a new study shows. The behaviour was seen in parasitoid ...
Aug 09, 2011 |
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Termites' digestive system could act as biofuel refinery
One of the peskiest household pests, while disastrous to homes, could prove to be a boon for cars, according to a Purdue University study.
Jul 05, 2011 |
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Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture. Many moth species are better known in their caterpillar stages because of the damage they cause to fruits and other agricultural produce.
The etymological origins of the word are from the early 16th century, from Middle English catirpel, catirpeller, probably an alteration of Old North French catepelose: cate, cat (from Latin cattus) + pelose, hairy (from Latin pilōsus).
For more information about Caterpillar, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
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