Carnivorous Caterpillar Disguises Itself With Dead Insect Body Parts

Shariqua Ahmed
Mon, 11 Aug 2025 07:27:50 -0700

Caterpillars are usually seen as harmless, plant-munching larvae. But a newly identified species discovered on the Hawaiian island of Oahu challenges that reputation. Measuring just 5 mm long, the "bone collector" caterpillar feeds on dead insects found in spider webs. It then repurposes the remains, wearing body parts like beetle shells and weevil heads as camouflage.