Dangerous Creatures: Passion-Vine Caterpillar

(Central and South America)

   The passion-vine caterpillar has some neighbours in the tropical rainforest: tiger centipedes and curly-haired tarantulas.
   The passion-vine caterpillar isn’t the only creature that has spikes for protection.
   Unlike most butterflies, the passion-vine butterfly is not good to eat.
   Passion-vine butterflies come in many different colours and patterns.
   Passion-flower leaves, poisonous to most, are a gourmet meal to this caterpillar.
   Scare tactics and dirty tricks. The puss moth caterpillar has a few surprises up its sleeve.
   Disguise yourself as a flower, like the crab spider or the praying mantis, and you’ll catch yourself a meal.
   Magic! Butterflies and moths develop from eggs to caterpillars to chrysalises – before changing to their winged glory.
   Video: If you’re a caterpillar, you need to protect yourself. Some wear sharp spines, and others bristle with irritating hair. Or you might look like a bird dropping, then no one would want to eat you!
   Advice: Swallowing one of these is like taking a cyanide capsule. If you really must taste a caterpillar or butterfly, eat a different one. Or better still, don’t eat one at all!

Next: Some caterpillars look like aliens from outer space. But then, there are a lot of weird-looking creatures in the world of insects.