Caterpillar (insect)

A caterpillar is the larval stage of insects in the order Lepidoptera, which includes butterflies and moths. Caterpillars emerge from eggs laid by adult females and primarily focus on eating leaves and growing. They have a segmented body, often covered in hair or spines, and can vary widely in color and pattern. After a period of feeding, a caterpillar will enter a cocoon or chrysalis to undergo metamorphosis, transforming into a butterfly or moth. This remarkable life cycle highlights the caterpillar's role in nature, both as a consumer of plants and as a crucial part of the ecosystem's food web.