What is the lifespan of a caterpillar?

The caterpillar is the second phase in the life cycle of a butterfly. The other phases include eggs (first phase), pupae (third phase), and the butterfly (fourth/final phase). The time taken for a butterfly’s life cycle to be completed could be anything from a single month to a complete year.

How do you identify caterpillars?

Identify a caterpillar by its main body color and any patterns it has, whether it has hair and how dense the hair is. It can also be identified by features such as lashes, head horns, tails, split tails or knobs. Other caterpillars can be identified by their spines or tentacles. Knowing the caterpillar’s host plant also helps to identify it.

What does a caterpillar do?

Caterpillars with a full complement of prolegs move in a fairly predictable motion. Usually, the caterpillar will first anchor itself using the terminal pair of prolegs and then reach forward with one pair of legs at a time, starting from the hind end. There's more going on than just leg action, though.