#Caterpillars

[heartnosekid]

machaon caterpillar (old world swallowtail) | malbafont_macrophotography on ig

[soft-stims]

Tea set

[zenlesszonezero]

As the conspiracy reaches its finale, the Void Hunter joins the fight.

Uncover the Conspiracy in Zenless Zone Zero's All-New Version "A Storm of Falling Stars", S-Rank Agent Hoshimi Miyabi is here! With S-Rank Agent Asaba Harumasa Limited-Time Giveaway! Pre-register to obtain additional rewards.

[paper-swirls]

CAT-erpillars!

[los-plantalones]

fell in love with a sentient pipe cleaner today

[platycryptus]

a mess of mature promethea moth caterpillars (Callosamia promethea) wriggling plumply after spending a little less than a month fattening up on wild cherry leaves

a smaller relative of the cecropia moth, these are one of the less well-known giant silkmoths in the US, but they might just be my favorite species to raise.

(Massachusetts, 8/20/23)

[etakeh]

This is so cool.

Tell me you've never wanted a molting cicada plushie. It's got iridescent wings. LOOK AT IT.

Also got a pitcher plant backpack...with a doomed caterpillar. Sorely tempted.

(he also makes glow in the dark plants) (and breeds monstera) (and has a free downloadable guide to plant breeding for cool characteristics)

anyway support independent artists or something? that make cool things?

[mysticmothworld]

TRICK OR TREAT!!!

Treat!! Have some delicious jewel caterpillars :3

[squishyfauna]

Freebie sticker for all backers of physical rewards on Kickstarter! 🐛✨

Kickstarter | Patreon | Etsy

@onenicebugperday

[titsay]

[clawmarks]

Insects, their ways and means of living - Robert E. Snodgrass - 1930 - via Internet Archive

[heartnosekid]

yellow slug moth caterpillar (olona sp. limacodidae) | source

[dunwichdrawsstuff]

Hands you a caterpillar

Hands you a caterpillar

Hands you a caterpillar

Hands you a caterpillar

Hands you a caterpillar

Hands you a caterpillar

I only had six caterpillars so that’s it

[critter-wonderland]

fun bug-themed activities to do !

Bug hunting! Make a list of the common bugs around your area (Can be done on your own or with friends!), and try to find all of them!! If playing with friends, the first one to find the most wins!

Insect-themed crafting! Search up some cool and neat crafts that are bug-themed! Try to make as many as you can!

Bug hotel building! use your dirt, sticks, and anything you find to make a small bug hotel in the yard!

Bug jars ! Decorate some jars and use them to capture and examine the bugs (Remember to release them!)

ant farm! Set up an ant farm to watch ants and see how they behave.

Bug identification charts caan come in handy! Use these to locate & try to identify random bugs in your area!

Bug art gallery! Make a small gallary out of random bug drawings you make!

insect observation ! This one is easy. follow bugs around and write down the behaviors you notice.

Make insect life cycle models!

ladybug release party! (TO DO WITH FRIENDS) find or buy a lot of ladybugs, and release them with your friends! Celebrate the bug's freedom!!!

Bee garden! (TO DO WITH FRIENDS, A BIT DIFFICULT). Plant a bunch of flowers that bees like! they can be already grown, or new seeds!

Insect art collage! Take pictures of bugs and cut them out, glue them onto a poster board or journal to make a collage of all the bugs you found!

Buy an insect discovery kit! This would be very helpful, and you can use it to collect/find and examine different bugs!

Make short stories about bugs!

dni banner made by @agere-explorer

[ratbugs]

the creatures have been contained

i could not for the life of me get in focus pictures so here are some blurry cryptid captures of the crime committers

[artifacts-and-arthropods]

Poplar Lappet Moths: these moths are able to mimic the dead leaves of a poplar tree (there is at least one moth in each of the photos below)

Above: the photo at the top shows two poplar lappet moths disguised as foliage (the two "leaves" on the left-most end of the branch are actually moths) and the photo on the bottom shows another poplar lappet moth clinging to a leaf

The scientific name of this species is Gastropacha populifolia, but it's more commonly referred to as the poplar lappet moth. It's also known as pappelglucke in German and feuille-morte du peuplier in French.

The moths are distributed across large sections of Europe, Russia, China, Korea, and Japan, but they're regarded as a rare species throughout most of Europe.

The shape, color, wing pattern, and resting position of this species all contribute to its unique disguise, as it bears an uncanny resemblance to a dead leaf. It even has a dark, snout-like projection (the labial palpi) that mimics the stem of a leaf, and its wing pattern completes the illusion with a dark, raised line forming the central "vein" of the leaf; the soft ridges and scalloped edges of its wings also add to the effect.

There are many other leaf-mimicking moths out there, but this species is particularly impressive.

The caterpillars also have a knack for blending in -- thanks to their cryptic coloration and fuzzy, setae-lined sides, they are easily camouflaged against the bark of a poplar tree.

Above: the photos at the top show Gastropacha populifolia caterpillars blending in by pressing their bodies flat up against twigs/branches, and the photo at the bottom shows one of the caterpillars in a more conspicuous setting

These moths are defended by more than just mimicry, though; they can also produce ultrasonic clicks that interfere with the echolocation signals of predatory bats, which allows the moths to avoid being detected (and ultimately eaten) by bats.

Above: the adorable face of a poplar lappet moth

Sources & More Info:

Nota Lepidopterologica: Continuous Long-Term Monitoring of Daily Foraging Patterns in Three Species of Lappet Moth Caterpillars

Catalogue of the Lepidoptera of Belgium: Gastropacha populifolia

Moths and How to Rear Them: Gastropacha populifolia

Wikipedia (German): Pappelglucke

Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa: G. populifolia

EurekaMag: Effect of the Scale Coverage of the Moth Gastropacha populifolia on the Reflection of Bat Echolocation Signals