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Monday, November 23, 2009

Photo: Caterpillars Build Silk "Alarm Systems"


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A metalmark moth caterpillar sits on a leaf inside a shelter it built out of silk.

By keeping long hairs in contact with the silk strands, the caterpillar can detect approaching danger and flee through an escape hatch chewed into the leaf, according to an October 2008 study. This ability makes metalmark moth caterpillars the only creatures other than spiders known to use silk to detect intruders.

Photograph courtesy Jadranka Rota