Ben Cruachan Blog #2

Sunday, December 04, 2005

More caterpillars.

I don't think I'd like to be reincarnated as a caterpillar, and have to spend a short life avoiding being skewered by a bird's beak! Caterpillars of course use a variety of means to minimize that risk, some, like the larvae of the Sawfly, commonly called Spitfires, exude a fluid reeking of eucalyptus, hoping to make themselves too obnoxious for any bird to fancy them. It doesn't always work however, as Gang Gang Cockatoos snack on them occasionally despite the pungent sauce. These creatures defoliate eucalypts at night, and spend the daylight hours huddled together in tight groups.
spitfires
Others take on a bizarre appearance and obviously hope they won't be recognised as food items. These hairy ones must think they look as if they haven't any meat on their bodies.
hairygrubs
The cleverest ones of all in my opinion, are the ones which camouflage themselves to blend in with their surroundings, sometimes being virtually unrecognisable.
camouflaged
Lastly, there are the loopers, I don't know what their angle is, perhaps they think that the birds will be so interested watching them looping along that they'll forget they're hungry!
looper

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