Caterpillars

Scientific name: Family Lepidoptera

Description

Caterpillars are the larvae of various species of moths and butterflies that cause damage by feeding on leaves, shoot, stems and fruit. Some species are very specific to the host plants that they attack where as other species can be less selective feeding on a wide range of plants species. Depending on the species they may also bind several leaves or petals together by weaving their silk, rolling them so that the larvae remain protected. Caterpillars also damage by skeletonising of leaves to completely defoliating the plant; they may also burrow into stems or cause holes in fruit causing crop losses and reduce the plant productivity and major aesthetic damage on ornamental. They can also cause a lot of damage to vegetables and fruiting plants.