Many will agree that butterflies are the most beautiful creatures on the planet. Their larvae - caterpillars - are not inferior to them. Most of them acquired a variegated color to protect themselves from enemies, and many species produce poison for protection. But the most poisonous caterpillars in the world are not always brightly colored. They often skillfully disguise themselves as their environment. We go to gardens and forests to get closer to the beautiful but dangerous butterfly larvae.
The most poisonous caterpillars on the planet:
1
Coquette / Megalopyge opercularis
When you see such a creature in nature, you might not immediately guess that it is a caterpillar. The larva, covered with a kind of fur, looks more like a furry animal. This is the larva of the flannel moth, native to the southern states of the United States.
But it is not recommended to iron it. Under its hairs are poisonous spines that release a toxic substance when touched. The touch is quite painful, and after about five minutes redness may appear.
This feature is necessary for protection. Attentive nature lovers have noticed that the hairy caterpillar bears a striking resemblance to Donald Trump's hair.
2
Saddle Caterpillar / Sibine stimulea
The larva of a gray butterfly from the slug family has a rather menacing appearance. On the green body there are brown spots along the edges, and in the middle there is a spot with a white border, resembling a saddle in shape.
They grow up to 3 cm during the development period. At both ends of the body there are two pairs of horns covered with hairs. At the tips of the hairs there are glands that produce a toxic substance.
The touch causes pain, which is comparable in strength to a bee sting. A rash appears at the site of contact, accompanied by headache and nausea. This rash will last for two days. It defends itself with its poisonous horns, and itself eats many types of plants.
3
Admiral
Caterpillars of the Admiral butterfly
A large, shaggy black-and-orange butterfly that is widespread throughout Russia. It is a migratory insect species. Arriving in more northern regions, it lays eggs on nettle or hop leaves. The admiral winters in the southern regions.
On a note!
Nettles also live on nettle caterpillars similar to admiral larvae.
A small black caterpillar with yellow stripes on the sides appears in May and within a few days creates a kind of canopy around itself from the leaves of the food plant. Throughout the summer it feeds inside its shelter, remaining hidden from predators. At the end of August, the black caterpillar turns into a pupa.
Parasa indetermina
The larva of the Parasa indetermina butterfly, due to its unusual appearance and ability to burn, received the nickname “Burning Rose”. It grows no more than 2.5 cm, and its range is limited to the North American continent.
She has bright colors and various stripes can be seen on her body. Red and yellow spots. In addition, for protection, it has a number of processes on which there are burning tubercles. When touched, the tips of these tubercles break off, and severe pain and irritation are felt at the point of contact.
It feeds on the leaves of fruit trees, especially often affecting various varieties of apple trees. Also found in deciduous forests.
By the way, on our website most-beauty.ru there is an interesting article about the most beautiful butterflies in the world.
4
Spiny oak slug caterpillar / Euclea delphinii
Experts note that the larva of this species of butterfly is not too dangerous, but during its evolution it has also developed protective mechanisms. They reach a length of no more than 1.5 cm, and feed, if you look at the species name of the butterfly, on oak leaves.
The body color is quite variegated. Throughout the body there are small outgrowths, at the tips of which a special substance is concentrated. Once in contact with the skin, this mucus causes a rash. These shoots are spiny. Touching them is quite painful. The touch is quite painful.
In addition to oak trees, such lumpy creatures can be found on willows and maples. She loves to eat both the leaves and fruits of garden trees, thereby harming agriculture.
5
Volyanka / Orgyia leucostigma
Small butterflies have settled on all continents, and in total there are more than 2,700 species. Particularly large populations are found in the tropical and subtropical zones of Southeast Asia and the African continent.
The caterpillars of many species of mothwort are poisonous. There are hairs on the body that contain a toxic substance. During periods of mass reproduction, such larvae can cause great harm to animals and humans. The poison causes inflammation of the respiratory tract, affects the mucous membrane of the eyes and causes a rash on the skin.
In addition, they are polyphagous and cause great harm to garden crops. They develop both on trees and on shrubs and herbaceous plants.
6
Habitat
For most species of caterpillars, the habitat is the surface of the earth, some species live in water, for example, the caterpillars of broad-winged moths, and the larvae of the Hawaiian moth can exist both in the air and under water.
According to the conditions of existence, these insect larvae are divided into two categories - hiding and leading a lifestyle in plain sight.The hidden ones are represented by:
- leafworms - these caterpillars live on trees, existing in twisted leaves;
- frugivores - live in fruits and vegetables;
- by drillers - the habitat of tree trunks and roots;
- miners - the habitat is foliage, branches, fruit and vegetable peels, plant buds - caterpillars make passages;
- gall formers - they cause damage to plant tissues and the appearance of new growths on them;
- living underground;
- aquatic – the habitat is bodies of water.
Leading a free lifestyle, they openly exist on plants; these are mainly caterpillars of large varieties of butterflies.
Common Dipper / Tyria jacobaeae
This species acquires toxicity as a result of eating a poisonous plant - Jacobea vulgaris. The ability to eat plantings of a poisonous plant is widely used by farmers in Australia and New Zealand to destroy a dangerous weed.
Because of the red coloring of her body, she is also called the Bloody Bear. The caterpillar eats the plant and becomes poisonous itself. They are not dangerous to humans, but pose a threat to birds that eat them.
A small number of these butterflies, and, consequently, caterpillars, were discovered in the Mozhaisk district of the Moscow region. Over the past 40 years, there has been a decline in the number of this butterfly species, which is why many states have adopted laws to protect the species.
By the way, on our website most-beauty.ru there is a fascinating article about the most poisonous and dangerous insects in Australia.
7
Classification
Each butterfly was a caterpillar, and the color of the caterpillar may differ from the color of the butterfly. Most often, caterpillars are herbivorous insects, but predators can also be found in nature. Depending on their food, caterpillars are divided into the following classes:
Polyphages. This type of caterpillar feeds on almost any plant. They represent butterfly species such as wine hawk moth, blind hawk moth, kaya bear, peacock eye and other insects.
Monophages . These caterpillars prefer to eat only specific types of plants, which is where their names come from. Examples of monophages include cabbage moths, apple moths, silkworms and other species.
Oligophages. The food of these insects is limited to one type of plant that belongs to a specific family or type. As a rule, this is a pine butterfly, swallowtail, polyxena.
Xylophagous. The diet of this class is varied with various tree barks. Such caterpillars are leafworms, woodworms, and so on.
Caterpillars also differ in their distribution area. A number of species inhabit the subtropics, and some inhabit the northern regions. Among the large number of caterpillars, there are also quite valuable representatives, for example, silkworms. Silk threads are obtained from their cocoon.
Redtail / Calliteara pudibunda
The distribution area of this butterfly is quite wide, but is divided into two large regions. The first, these are the countries of Western Europe, is found in Belarus and Crimea.
The second is the eastern regions of Russia. Widely settled in Siberia and Primorye. It is also called Shy Paw. The entire body of the caterpillar is covered with hairs, and the color is quite varied. There are red, pink, as well as brown and gray individuals. But they all have a small red ponytail at the back.
Touching human skin causes an allergic rash and redness. A furry caterpillar will not do much harm, but it will be unpleasant.
8
Peacock eye
Peacock Eye Caterpillar
The beautiful nocturnal butterfly caterpillar is known for its large size - some specimens exceed 10 cm in length. The large green caterpillar of the Peacock's eye lives in the western part of Russia, the Caucasus, and Crimea. The main food is fruit trees:
- Apple tree;
- pear;
- Walnut;
- plum;
- cherry.
On a note!
An interesting feature of the peacock eye is the change in color during the development of the larva. Before pupation, the yellow color changes to green. And the pupa itself turns brown.
Purple Hawkmoth / Mimas tiliae
The small caterpillar reaches an average length of no more than 6 cm at the peak of development. The species of this inconspicuous butterfly was discovered by Carl Linnaeus in 1758.
The body is rough, and there is a horn on the tail. This horny process has a protective shield. Development begins in early summer. During this period, they can be found on the branches of wild and fruit trees. There are especially many of them on linden, birch, and various types of alder. By the time of pupation, the body color completely changes.
It is not dangerous in itself, but if it crawls across the body, it will leave a bright mark. There are substances on her body that cause an allergic reaction. It is most difficult for allergy sufferers and people with weakened immune systems.
9
Cabbage butterfly
Cabbage caterpillar
The caterpillar of the cabbage butterfly is one of the most common in the European part of Russia. The green caterpillar has a body 3-4 cm long, covered with black growths and hairs. She was named after her favorite dish - cabbage leaves. In addition to cabbage, the garden pest also likes to feast on other vegetable crops:
- radish;
- turnip;
- turnip;
- horseradish and others.
The length of time an insect stays in the caterpillar stage depends on weather conditions. This period can range from 2 to 5 weeks. However, even such a short time period is enough for the whitefish to cause serious damage to the crop.
Saturnia io / Automeris io
The beautiful peacock butterfly is found in Canada and the United States. The entire body of the caterpillar of this butterfly is covered with peculiar greenish thorny pom-poms.
She herself is light, and does not grow more than 4–5 cm. You can only admire this view from afar, but under no circumstances pick it up or even touch it. After contact with the thorns, poison penetrates the body. Toxic substances cause redness, pain at the injection site and can even cause the development of dermatitis.
It looks like a very cute and safe creature. But this is yet another proof that beauty is deceptive.
10
Willow ribbonwort - twilight guest
freenatureimages.eu. Catocala electa, wingspan – 65-88 mm
The second name of this butterfly is willow ribbon. The insect leads a crepuscular lifestyle, so you are unlikely to see it during the day. The butterfly's front wings are gray and inconspicuous, but the lower wings are bright red with black edging and spots in the middle. Moreover, in males the raspberry shade predominates, and in females it is red. The Ribbonwort can also be seen in the fall. It is most often found near bodies of water, in meadows and wetlands. It feeds on tree sap.
pyrgus.de
Caterpillars of the willow tapeworm are perfectly camouflaged. The yellow-gray body is covered with small black dots, the head is brown. The insect feeds on willow and poplar leaves, so it does not harm garden crops. But if you have a willow growing on your site, be vigilant.
How to attract a ribbon girl. It would seem that the insect is nocturnal - why attract it? You can do this at least just to see this amazing butterfly. In the evening, turn on a flashlight or other artificial light source - and the ribbon fly will come to visit you.
Witch moth / Phobetron pithecium
The most peculiar and unusual caterpillar in wildlife usually lives on fruit trees in orchards. Because of its unusual appearance, it is also called the “slug monkey.”
The entire body is covered with thick hair, and the body structure differs from the usual physique of butterfly larvae. Most often, the hair is light brown in color, which darkens with age.
Nature took care of protection, because not every bird will decide to peck such a “monster”. This type of larva can be perceived in different ways, but the hairs contain a toxic substance. If it comes into contact with the skin, it causes redness that goes away after a few days.
Hickory Dipper / Lophocampa caryae
Another fluffy, dangerous caterpillar that lives in North and Central America. The white fluffy creature looks completely harmless.
It does not have poison, but the hairs have barbs that can damage the skin. Inflammation is observed in the damaged areas. The area becomes itchy and later develops an unpleasant rash. One of the few that can bite.
It grows no more than 3 cm. Development occurs in late spring and early summer. People with allergies should especially stay away from them.
12
Saturnia Maya / Hemileuca maia
In the photo you can see what the caterpillar of a beautiful butterfly looks like. But the larva disgusts her and discourages her from getting to know each other better.
The entire body is covered with hollow spines, which are connected to poisonous reservoirs. When examined under a microscope, you can see that these spines are covered with multiple hairs. They themselves are dark, but the caterpillar's body is light.
The poison causes severe itching and burning in the victim. After the initial external symptoms, headache and nausea begin. From spring to mid-summer they sit in large groups on oak branches and willows.
13
Hawthorn - beautiful and treacherous
Aporia crataegi, wingspan 50-65 mm
Hawthorn can often be found in gardens in the Moscow region. This beautiful butterfly with white wings decorated with black veins flies from apple tree to rosehip, from rowan to plum, from grape to pear to lay its eggs, from which voracious caterpillars will soon emerge. Hawthorn is a “relative” of the famous cabbage. Prefers wetlands and easily travels long distances in search of food and nesting sites.
nature.baikal.ru
Hawthorn caterpillars are covered with thick hairs and can gnaw an entire bush or tree in a short time. They grow slowly, so they make nests in trees for the winter. If leaves entangled with mulberry threads appear on the branches, rest assured that the hawthorn has settled in your garden!
How to deal with hawthorn and its caterpillars. You can place hunting belts on trees and put up birdhouses to attract birds. In early spring, it is worth spraying the plants with a solution of copper sulfate (100 g per 10 liters of water) with the addition of 500 g of urea. If there are a lot of pests, use insecticides: Alatar, Fatrin, Kinmiks, etc. Carry out the treatment during bud break, when the caterpillars emerge from their winter nests, or in the summer after the caterpillars hatch from their eggs.
Lonomia / Lonomia Obliqua
One of the most poisonous caterpillars on the planet is the larva of the Peacock butterfly, found in Latin America. Reaches a length of 5.5 to 8 cm. The entire body is covered with fine hairs. They are also called the Lazy Clown.
Numerous studies have proven that lomonia can produce toxic substances dangerous to human life and health. For the first time, attention was paid to toxin poisoning in 1983, when dangerous creatures caused a massive epidemic in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.
A poisonous caterpillar from South America has caused the death of many people. Fatal outcomes after encountering it are recorded especially often in the south of Brazil.
14
Pine silkworm / Thaumetopoea pinivor
In Russia, poisonous caterpillars are not as dangerous as those in South America, but they can also cause a lot of trouble. This type of silkworm received its name due to the massive migrations of larvae. They live on pine needles, which they feed on.
During development, lush hair appears on the body. Adult individuals break these hairs themselves, resulting in the formation of a kind of dust. When such dust gets on the mucous areas and skin of a person, a strong burning sensation begins.
Then the skin turns red and severe itching begins. Symptoms appear within a few weeks. After contact, you should seek medical help.
15
Ochrogaster lunifer
This type of caterpillar is called "hiding in a bag." They stay in groups in a silk bag during the day, and at night they crawl out to hunt, moving one after another.
The species lives in South America and poses a danger to humans. The black caterpillar is completely covered with sharp hairs. They are not poisonous, but touching them can cause a deep cut.
The whole danger is that these hairs act as a powerful anticoagulant. This substance slows down the process of blood clotting. To avoid big problems, it is necessary to provide medical assistance.
Baang haang
This is the name of the caterpillars of Thailand. We will complete our list of most-beauty with them. Almost all caterpillars of an exotic country will cause a lot of problems for tourists. After meeting them, the body itches for weeks and a rash appears.
Like many inhabitants of tropical forests, the larvae of Thai butterflies are beautiful and distinctive. Most species are brightly colored to scare off enemies. Some, on the contrary, disguise themselves as foliage or the earth's surface.
When going to any country, you need to study what dangerous creatures you can encounter in its open spaces.
Moth
Moth butterfly caterpillar
This caterpillar is called a land surveyor due to its unusual mode of movement. Her slender body is pulled upward in a loop, pulling the back part forward, then the front part is pulled along the surface. The brown color allows it to camouflage itself with the color of the bark. The moth eats tree needles, currant foliage, and hazel.
