本帖最后由 人与自然 于 2012-12-30 01:09 编辑
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2254257/The-caterpillars-mimic-snakes-grow-spiky-spines-eat-toxic-flowers--predators-away.html
From pretending to be a snake to emitting a bad smell - welcome to the weird and wonderful world of caterpillar self defence.
When you're easy pickings for any number of predators the ability to turn yourself into a snake is a handy one.
And that's exactly what the snake mimic hawkmoth caterpillar is able to do.
Uncanny resemblance: When disturbed the snake mimic hawkmoth caterpillar pulls in its legs and head and expands the front part of its body, to take on the appearance of a serpent. The brown part, which appears to be the top of the snake's head, is actually the caterpillar's underside 这个可不是一条蛇，而是一个天蛾幼虫毛毛虫的伪装，看起来很像一条蛇，头部位置其实毛毛虫的身体腹部，这足以吓走捕食者。 When threatened it will pull in its legs and head and expand the front part of its body to make itself resemble a snake.
The brown head of this 'snake' is actually the underside of the caterpillar.
The snake mimic hawkmoth isn't the only caterpillar to have evolved some devious tricks to avoid ending up as dinner.
Intimidating: The elephant hawkmoth caterpillar Deilephila elpenor has two pairs of false eyes on the top of its head which make it seem larger than it actually is and serve as a display to frighten away predators
Who you looking at? The spicebush swallowtail butterfly caterpillar also has two pairs of false eyes to frighten away predators. The species range from southern Canada to Florida
Take the Elephant hawkmoth or the spicebush swallowtail caterpillar for example.
These two caterpillars possess a pair of huge eye spot markings on their bodies - making them look menacing and causing an opportunistic predator to think twice before attacking.
Other caterpillars grow long hairy tufts, spines and other ornaments that are barbed with poison, such as the hairy flannel moth or the saddleback caterpillar.
Furry: A Metalmark butterfly caterpillar disguises itself with a shock of white hair
Do not stroke! This Flannel moth caterpillar may look harmless but its hairs are coated with stinging poison that causes sudden inflammation and pain. The poison protects the caterpillar against predatory birds.
Life in a cold climate: The Arctic woolly bear moth caterpillar lives up to 14 years as a caterpillar before pupating into a moth that lives for one summer. Found in the high Arctic, it survives sub zero temperatures by hibernating during the cold season and producing anti-freeze proteins that stop its cells from freezing
Painful: Saddleback caterpillars have urticating (barbed) hairs that secrete a toxic venom. Touching the hairs results in a painful skin reaction
Another furry one: A Slug Moth caterpillar (Limacodidae), which also boasts urticating hairs
Not as spiky as it looks: The caterpillar of the saturniid moth Hyalophora cecropia has brightly coloured protuberances bearing black spikes on its body. The role served by these structures is not known. However, they may be a mimicry device to make the caterpillar resemble a poisonous animal or a toxic plant
Monkey Slug, the caterpillar of a species of Shag Moth: Monkey Slug's are covered with toxic urticating hairs and stinging spines that can produce a painful skin reaction
This one's just ugly: The face of a typhon sphinx caterpillar (Eumorpha typhon)
A swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio polyxenes) changing into a chrysalis (left). The Io moth caterpillar (right) is covered in urticating hairs and many spines. The spines have a painful venom released by the slightest touch
Scary: A Walnut caterpillar (Datana integerrima)
Meanwhile, the nolid moth caterpillar grows an enlarged, green coloured, section of abdomen which overlaps its actual head. It is thought this acts as a deterrent to birds by resembling unripe berries.
The larva of the puss moth doesn't just have one trick up its sleeve - it has a whole nasty repertoire.
Firstly, when disturbed it puffs up its upper body to reveal a huge red 'head' complete with false black eyes.
Two fork-like tentacles at the end of its abdomen are then extended over its back, and red tubules are pushed out from the tips which carry a sharp-smelling odour.
As if that wasn't menacing enough, it can even squirt acid at its enemy.
The spiniest of them all? Saturniid moth (Pseudoautomeris pohli) caterpillars are covered with venomous spines
Psychedelic: The stinging rose slug caterpillar (Parasa indetermina) lives up to its name as its body is covered in irritating bristles
Caterpillar of pale tussock moth (Dasychira pudibunda), left. Right, a Giant swallowtail caterpillar (Papilio cresphontes) with scent horns extended. The red-orange organ, called an osmeterium, emits a noxious odour
Allergenic: The White-marked Tussock Moth larva (Orgyia leucostigma) is covered in bristles that can set off an allergic reaction if touched
It might look like something you can wash your armpits with... But this Hairy caterpillar is overed in spiny bristles that are used as a self-defence mechanism
Puss Moth larva (Cerura vinula) in a defensive position: Typically the puss moth larva's green body with white spots camouflages in among the leaves on which it feeds. However, when disturbed it will puff up its upper body to reveal a huge red 'head' complete with false black eyes. Meanwhile, two fork-like tentacles at the end of its abdomen are extended over its back, and red tubules are pushed out from the tips which carry a sharp-smelling odour
Nolid moth caterpillar, front view: This species of caterpillar grows an enlarged, green coloured, section of abdomen which overlaps its actual head. It is thought this acts as a deterrent to birds by resembling unripe berries
Slug moth caterpillar (Family Limacodidae): Slug moth caterpillars are brightly coloured as a warning to predators and also feature urticating hairs that can pack a nasty sting
Palamedes Swallowtail Butterfly caterpillar (Papilio palamedes), left, whose patterns make it look like a snake. Right, a Zebra longwing caterpillar (Heliconius charitonius) which, as well as boasting fearsome spines, also feeds off the passion flower, which contain a toxin that gives the caterpillars an unpleasant taste and makes them unattractive to predators
It isn't just predators that some caterpillars have to defend against.
the Arctic woolly bear moth caterpillar has to protect itself against sub-zero temperatures.
To do this the caterpillar produces anti-freeze proteins that prevents its cells from freezing completely, while its body is covered with long hairs that minimise heat loss.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2254257/The-caterpillars-mimic-snakes-grow-spiky-spines-eat-toxic-flowers--predators-away.html#ixzz2GSigteXs
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