Only a few lepidoptera larva are carnivores. The larva of the Harvester Butterfly exclusively eats woolly aphids. After the molt, while the new skin is still soft, they swallow a lot of air, which expands their body. Then, when the cuticle hardens, they let the air out and have room for growth. The Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar has large eyespots that make it look like a large snake-like predator and not a vulnerable larva.
Caterpillars molt four or five times as they grow.
Each different caterpillar stage is called an instar. When the caterpillar has reached the right size, it is time for it to pupate. More on Caterpillars To learn about caterpillar anatomy, click here . Caterpillar Printouts Caterpillar Anatomy Printout Simple Caterpillar printout . As stated in our privacy policy , we fully respect your privacy and will not use your e-mail address for any purpose other than the newsletter subscription.