Fascinating Facts About Caterpillars

Surely youve seen a caterpillar in your lifetime, and youve probably even handled one, but how much do you know about Lepidopteran larvae? These cool facts about caterpillars will give you new respect for what remarkable creatures they are. A Caterpillar Has Just One Job -- to Eat During the larval stage, the caterpillar must consume enough to sustain itself through its pupal stage and into adulthood. Without proper nutrition, it may not have the energy to complete its metamorphosis. Malnourished caterpillars may reach adulthood, but be unable to produce eggs. Caterpillars can eat an enormous amount during a life cycle stage that typically lasts several weeks. Some consume 27,000 times their body weight during this life phase. Caterpillars Increase Their Body Mass by as Much as 1,000 Times or More The larval stage of the life cycle is all about growth. Within the span of a few weeks, the caterpillar will grow exponentially. Because its cuticle, or skin, is only so pliable, the caterpillar will molt multiple times as it gains size and mass. The stage between molts is called an instar, and most caterpillars go through 5 to 6 instars before pupating. No wonder caterpillars consume so much food! A Caterpillars First Meal Is Usually Its Eggshell In most cases, when a caterpillar ecloses (hatches) from its egg, it will consume the remainder of the shell. The outer layer of the egg, called the chorion, is rich in protein and provides the new larva  with a nutritious start. A Caterpillar Has as Many as 4,000 Muscles in Its Body Thats one seriously muscle-bound insect! By comparison, humans have just 629 muscles in a considerably larger body. The caterpillars head capsule alone consists of 248 individual muscles, and about 70 muscles control each body segment. Remarkably, each of the 4,000 muscles is innervated by one or two neurons.   Caterpillars Have 12 Eyes On each side of its head, a caterpillar has 6 tiny eyelets, called stemmata, arranged in a semi-circle. One of the 6 eyelets is usually offset a bit and located closer to the antennae. You would think an insect with 12 eyes would have excellent eyesight, but thats not the case. The stemmata serve merely to help the caterpillar differentiate between light and dark. If you watch a caterpillar, youll notice it sometimes moves its head from side to side. This most likely helps it judge depth  and distance as it navigates somewhat blindly. Caterpillars Produce Silk Using modified salivary glands along the sides of their mouth, caterpillars can produce silk as needed. Some caterpillars, like gypsy moths, disperse by ballooning from the treetops on a silken thread. Others, such as eastern tent caterpillars or webworms, construct silk tents in which they live communally. Bagworms use silk to join dead foliage together into a shelter. Caterpillars also use silk when they pupate, either to suspend a chrysalis or to construct a cocoon. Caterpillars Have 6 Legs, Just as Adult Butterflies or Moths Do There are way more than 6 legs on most caterpillars youve seen, but most of those legs are false legs, called prolegs, which help the caterpillar hold onto plant surfaces and allow it to climb. The 3 pairs of legs on the caterpillars thoracic segments are the true legs, which it will retain in adulthood. A caterpillar may have up to 5 pairs of prolegs on its abdominal segments, usually including a terminal pair on the hind end.   Caterpillars Move in a Wavelike Motion, From Back to Front Caterpillars with a full complement of prolegs move in a fairly predictable motion. Usually, the caterpillar will first anchor itself using the terminal pair of prolegs and then reach forward with one pair of legs at a time, starting from the hind end. Theres more going on than just leg action, though. The caterpillars blood pressure changes as it moves forward, and its gut, which is basically a cylinder suspended inside its body, advances in sync with the head and rear end. Inchworms and loopers, which have fewer prolegs, move by pulling their hind ends forward in contact with the thorax and then extending their front half. Caterpillars Get Creative When It Comes to Self Defense Life at the bottom of the food chain can be tough, so caterpillars employ all kinds of strategies to avoid becoming a bird snack. Some caterpillars, such as the early instars of black swallowtails, look like bird droppings. Certain inchworms in the family Geometridae mimic twigs, and bear markings that resemble leaf scars or bark. Other caterpillars use the opposite strategy, making themselves visible with bright colors to advertise their toxicity. A few caterpillars, like the spicebush swallowtail, display large eyespots to deter birds from eating them. If youve ever tried to take a caterpillar from its host plant, only to have it fall to the ground, youve observed it using thanatosis to thwart your efforts to collect it. A swallowtail caterpillar can be identified by its smelly osmeterium, a special defensive stink gland just behind the head. Many Caterpillars Use the Toxins From Their Host Plants to Their Own Advantage Caterpillars and plants co-evolve. Some host plants produce toxic or foul-tasting compounds meant to dissuade herbivores from munching their foliage. But many caterpillars can sequester the toxins in their bodies, effectively using these compounds to protect themselves from predators. The classic example of this is the monarch caterpillar and its host plant, milkweed. The monarch caterpillar ingests glycosides produced by the milkweed plant. These toxins remain within the monarch through adulthood, making the butterfly unpalatable to birds and other predators. Sources Caterpillar locomotion: A new model for soft-bodied climbing and burrowing robots, Barry A. Trimmer, Ann E. Takesian, and Brian M. Sweet, Tufts University, 2006.Unique Means of Animal Locomotion Reported for First Time, Tufts University media release, July 22, 2010.Caterpillars of Eastern North America, David L. Wagner.Encyclopedia of Insects, 2nd Edition, edited by Vincent H. Resh and Ring T. Cardà ©, 2009.Borror and Delongs Introduction to the Study of Insects, 7th Edition, by Charles A. Triplehorn and Norman F. Johnson, 2005.

The American Dream Analysis - 1162 Words

What is your discussion question you prepared for the group? * Some argue that BTWM lacks an adequate representation of black women. Do you think Coates had an obligation to include the experiences of black women in his writing? Why? What is The American Dream? What is the Dream Coates talks about? What is the difference? This should be three paragraphs long. (He goes further into it on page 146) * The American Dream is the ideal that anyone can be successful if they work hard enough. This insinuates that America is the land of equal opportunity where any individual can pursue happiness and prosperity through hard work and dedication. This â€Å"Dream† is found in the Declaration of Independence and is stated as such: â€Å"We hold these†¦show more content†¦The Dreamers are living the Dream, which Coates defines as the fiction of whiteness. Dreamers think that they are white, and therefore believe they are â€Å"beyond the design flaws of humanity.† Coates uses Between the World and Me as a call to action, and he is waiting for the Dreamers to come into consciousness to see what they have done to the world. Although similar in many ways, the American Dream and the Dream Coates talks about have one major difference: the American dream is a sought-after fantasy while the Dream that Coates describes is a real and problematic mental state. Just like any dr eam, the American Dream is fictional and unpredictable. In reality, all men are not created equal, and hard work never guarantees success. Simply put, the American Dream is a fictitious ideal, and those who choose to believe in it are ignorant above all else. On the contrary, the Dream that Coates talks about is a real-life, prevalent issue in White America. Unlike the American Dream, the Dream that Coates refers to is not a fantasy. It is not an ideal, but rather a senseless state of ignorance. The Dreamers are real, and they are unconsciously stuck in the Dream. This Dream is otherwise known as the American Dream, and it is completely fictional. What does Coates tell his son to struggle for? What does he tell him not to struggle for? Provide specific excerpts (at least two) * Coates specifically tells his son to struggle for Black history. He does not want his son toShow MoreRelatedThe American Dream Analysis1366 Words   |  6 PagesThe American Dream was developed by James Truslow Adams in 1931, and he stated, â€Å"the American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability and achievement.† This concept is flawed in today’s standards as Adam’s â€Å"better and richer and fuller† life, is more focused on being successful and accepted, rather than being happy. Therefore, Adam’s â€Å"American Dream† needs to be revised to imply that success doesn’tRead MoreAnalysis Of The American Dream1063 Words   |  5 PagesWhat is the American Dream? Is it home ownership, gaining fame or wealth, having a great family or is it gaining a peace of mind? Many people have different versions of what the American Dream is, som e people believe the dream is lost, and some people are right in the middle and still believe the American Dream is still alive. â€Å"The American Dream† by Brandon King debates about what the true state is left in the American Dream now. Throughout the essay, King asks if the American Dream is dead, aliveRead MoreThe American Dream Analysis827 Words   |  4 PagesThe American Dream is another controversial element of American life whose validity was well-debated by writers of the era. This was an ideal that many immigrants from the Old World strived to achieve, hoping that their penniless fortunes would quickly change for the better. One author, William Bryant Cullen, emphasized how America is a refuge for â€Å"Earth’s trodden down and opprest† peoples, including the â€Å"hunted head† and the â€Å"starved laborer.† This phrase from the patriotic poem indicates that theRead MoreAmerican Dream Analysis995 Words   |  4 Pagesrealize that eac h character has their own dreams and aspirations for life. These dreams are used to resemble Steinbecks opinions about the American dream. Therefore, Steinbeck proves that the American dream is unrealistic and unable to be achieved; this is proved through the dreams of Lennie, George, and Crooks. Steinbeck believes that the American dream is unrealistic and unable to be achieved. Lennie dreams of tending rabbits on a farm with George. Lennie’s dream is never achieved due to his tragicRead MoreThe American Dream Case Analysis1355 Words   |  6 Pages American Dream Case Analysis At 1981, The George A. Hormel Meatpacking Company cut wages from $10.69 to $8.25 to claim the need to remain competitive. Companies threat workers that they either close one plant and then open it at lower wage places or exit the business directly. Local unions like P-9 firstly request that all the workers should stick to $10.69 an hour in ten or fifteen years that we could call its target point. The company didn’t agree, they asserted new member workers the companyRead MoreAnalysis Of The Poem The American Dream 1071 Words   |  5 PagesThe American dream to me is a secure way of life for the future. Having a steady job, no struggles and financial securities. Living life to the absolute fullest while being successful by doing what you love. So my idea is supported by connecting to Sam Walton and Jay –Z profiles/interviews. The interview says no matter how hard you had it growing up, you can still conquer anything if you work hard enough and put your mind to it. T his is the same as the visual image of the homeless person in theRead MoreAnalysis Of The Movie The American Dream 754 Words   |  4 Pages Nyreel Powell Ms. Jones American Literature 1 June 2015 The American dream in A Raisin in the Sun Have you ever had a dream and it didn’t come how you wanted it to be? Have you ever had accomplishments that you wanted to achieve but people were getting in the way of them? The four main characters in this book all have good dreams but there are people in the way of getting to those dreams or their dream is too high to accomplish. A Raisin in the Sun a play written by Lorraine Hansberry, andRead MoreAnalysis Of Urban And The American Dream Essay1295 Words   |  6 Pagesemerged in the mid-twentieth century. There are many influential films that have emerged from this genre such as City of God (2002) and Straight Outta Compton (2015). Urban/hood films generally surround young men, that are typically Black/African-American (but other racial groups can be present as well) who live in the impoverished areas of cities. The characters of these movies are often trying to find a way to better the standards of their lives (and may compromise their moral beliefs to accomplishRead MoreLevitt American Dream Analysis726 Words   |  3 Pages The Levitts have a simple version of the American Dream during the 1950s. Each son had a specific American Dream they were trying to achieve. For Alfred, the American Dream was to be married and to make other people happy. He does this by making the communities have a perfect design with green grass. William Levitts viewpoint on the American Dream is different from Alfred. William wanted to make money and live a life of which he is â€Å"on top of the world.† A quote which shows this states â€Å"In hisRead MoreMarxist Analysis of the American Dream990 Words   |  4 Pagesare relishing in The American Dream While capitalism promotes the belief that this dream is achievable, it is more often than not, a literal dream, and leaves its pursuers poor, and weak. This keeps the working class powerless, and pacified to propagate capitalistic values. Clean cut examples of this are cases in such societies where people do not have the chance to advance but have the chance to succeed. A strange position that seems to contradict a culture thats Dream is to be powerful and

Sociology and Age Section Ch Free Essays

Ch 10 What role does the media need to play in ending gender violence? What is the glass ceiling? Why are women a minority group? In what countries mentioned in the text has mass media helped create an incipient women’s movement by showing women that other gender relationships are possible? What was the result of the remarks made by the President of Harvard University suggesting women had inborn characteristics making them less competitive than men in fields such as engineering? What did the Vietnam veterans study find out about aggression? When the media replaces older female broadcasters with younger ones while keeping older ones, what might explain this? How do feminists feel about female circumcision? What is the glass escalator? What is gender tracking? What is disengagement theory? How do sociologists view gender based behavior? What is an age cohert What is suttee in India? What was Engels explanation of patriarchy? In which sociological perspective do theorists focus on how the meaning of â€Å"old age† shifts based on the changing conditions of society? What is life expectancy? What are honor killings? What were the 3 waves of feminism? What were the goals of each? What is the definition of feminism? What is activity theory (age section ch 10) Which era lead to the greatest increase in life expectancy? What is unintentional sexual discrimination in healthcare? Ch 11 What is a rational-legal authority? A charismatic leader? Who in US history has embodied both? Which country pays the most social security taxes? Which type of leader is believed to be touch by God? What are criticisms of socialism? What is capitalism? What happens when economies have both? The Ruling class are Domhoff’s description of which group? (Ruling class) What are their characteristics? What is totalitarianism? Give examples. What invention lead to the industrial era? What effect does industrialization have on traditional authorities? In capitalism, who determines the cost of goods? What is a political action committee? What lead to conspicuous consumption? What is convergence theory? Early systems of government closely resembled what type of social institution? Town hall meetings are held to create laws in which type of government? What are the 3 conditions of war? What is the global villiage? Which theorist stated an items value is based on the work that goes into it and that profit is made by paying workers less than this? What are the 3 sources of authority identified by Weber? Who has a monopoly on legitimate force and violence? What is the political gender gap? What is the most common title for the ruler of a city state? Which theorist says authority must be deemed legitimate by the people? Ch 12 In both single mother families and married couples what is the most common childcare for working mothers? What is the sociological definition of marriage? What is serial fatherhood? What are the biggest strains in the US family? What percent of US marriages are interracial? Is the family universal? Who says? Which theory is going to look at the meaning of women’s work? What trends are expected to continue in education? What influence does industrialization have on family structure? Which racial/ ethnic group is least likely to be headed by a married couple? Who are the most common incest offenders? Which racial/ethnic group is most likely to have strong fatherly influence? Which theory identified that the family provides economic production, socialization, care of the sick and aged, etc.? Who are DINKS? SINKS? Who are boomerang children? Ch 13 What did Marx say about religion? What do schools have to do with the cultural transmission of values? What are they? What were the 2 major goal of education when it was first introduced to the masses? What is tracking Which theory says religion gives meaning to our lives? What is gatekeeping in education? Which functions of families are now being fulfilled by schools? What was the Inquisition? What is a credential society? What does it mean to be born again? What is mainstreaming of disabilities? How does money influence school admission in Japan? Religion has been used to justify denying homosexuals rights in America. We will write a custom essay sample on Sociology and Age Section Ch or any similar topic only for you Order Now What would a conflict theorist say this says about religion? What is ecclesia? What was the result of the remarks made by the President of Harvard University suggesting women had inborn characteristics making them less competitive than men in fields such as engineering? How to cite Sociology and Age Section Ch, Essay examples