A caterpillar is a butterfly larva, stages of its development and feeding habits

Description, appearance and body structure

A caterpillar is the larva of lepidopteran insects, namely butterflies, moths and moths. Its body is oblong, segmented, its soft shell provides maximum mobility. Caterpillars, like their adult sexually mature individuals, belong to the class of insects.

Their body consists of a barely visible head, thoracic and abdominal sections, and several pairs of limbs. In appearance, the body structure of the caterpillar resembles a worm. The size of a butterfly or other insect larva can vary from 10 mm to 12 cm.

In the front part of the caterpillar there is a head, which consists of six fused segments that form a hard capsule. In most cases it is round. The parietal parts of the insect protrude above the head, forming a kind of horns. Small antennae grow on the sides, consisting of three successive joints. Butterfly larvae have 5-6 pairs of eyes. Usually they are located one after another in an arcuate manner.

Body structure

The mouthparts of this insect are of the gnawing type. The upper jaws are well developed and have teeth that easily gnaw and tear food. Inside the oral cavity there are tubercles for chewing food. Insects breathe using a spiracle, which is located on the chest and represents a stigma.

Most butterfly caterpillars have three pairs of legs in the chest area, and five pairs of prolegs, which are located in the abdominal region. At the ends of the first there are soles with claws, which insects extend during movement. The latter are equipped with small hooks that help them stay on the plant. In general, moth and moth caterpillars look like butterfly caterpillars. Their size and shade of the body may vary.

The insect's body is covered with small villi, outgrowths, and a well-grown cuticle. In this case, the bristles are arranged in a certain order inherent in a given species or family of insects.

To transform the larva into a mature flying individual, each caterpillar contains immaginal discs, which are the rudiment of future wings, articulated paws and compound eyes. In the process of further development of the insect, their transformation occurs.

About the manufacturer Composite

(official full name - CJSC NPO "Composite") specializes in the manufacture of tracks for snowmobiles. Its products have a good quality-price ratio, so it is not surprising that they are very popular among owners of this type of transport.

She also contacts the population of the northern regions, conducting surveys to find out their opinion on the performance of certain products on the market.

The name of the company itself accurately reflects the essence of its products - after all, the company uses the latest composite materials in the production of tracks. Together with the results of ongoing research, this allows us to achieve many important goals:

the products are economical, their use can reduce fuel costs by 5-10%;
manufactured caterpillars are lightweight;
they have high elasticity, and this increases their performance characteristics;
the tensile strength of the tracks increases;
the effort required to move away becomes minimal.

Among its products you can find tracks for all popular models of the world's leading manufacturers:

For more information about the Yamaha snowmobile, watch the video:

Lynx;
Ski-Doo;
BRP.

A wide range of tracks for domestic products is also available, producing tracks for snowmobiles from companies such as:

Buran;
Russian mechanics;
Taiga;
Varyag 550;
Tiksi;

Lynx;
Ermak;
Dingo;
Stels.

So, the entire product range of the company can be divided into three main types of tracks:

tracks for imported snowmobiles;
tracks for domestic snowmobiles;

The latter include components intended for use on swamp vehicles, motorized towing vehicles, all-terrain vehicles and tracks on a walk-behind tractor. This vehicle is also widely used in different parts of our country, and the company is ready to provide the owners of such vehicles with tracks for all occasions.

A large number of people are engaged in sowing potatoes on their plots. Here you will learn about planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor.

When choosing, you need to take into account not only the specific model of the vehicle, but also other important factors. These include:

terms of Use;
the nature of the routes you will travel on most often;
the purposes for which the snowmobile is used;
driving style.

For greater convenience for customers, a special service operates on the website www.composit.net: the program will help you choose the appropriate models for any snowmobile.

Habitat

The limited mobility of caterpillars does not facilitate their movement over long distances. In most cases, insects lead a terrestrial lifestyle, but there are also species that live in water.

All caterpillars are divided into two main groups: hidden and leading a free lifestyle. The former practically do not appear on the surface and live in the bark or in the ground away from sunlight. The latter are found on plants and are active during the daytime.

Habitat

In nature, many insects and animals feed on caterpillars. This is due to their high protein content. Therefore, the color of insects living on plants has a camouflage color, which allows them to blend in with the surface of the leaves. Poisonous butterfly larvae are characterized by a frightening bright body shade.

Among those who eat caterpillars:

wasps;
spiders;
birds;
reptiles.

To protect themselves from attacks from predators, some butterfly larvae are capable of producing a whistle and protruding from their body a fork-shaped gland of a red-orange hue, which secretes mucus with a pungent odor.

Drive system

A small diameter drive sprocket is installed on the engine output shaft. From it, torque is transmitted through a chain to the driven shaft, located under the engine seat. On the driven shaft there are:

Large diameter driven sprocket.
Gear wheels that drive the tracks.
Guides for tracks.

The driven shaft is mounted on the frame using bearings. Gear wheels push the tracks, causing the tracks to move. The chain and sprockets are removed from one device. Old motorcycles and snowmobiles (Buran) are suitable donors. Gear wheels for tracks can only be removed from other tracked vehicles.

The guide rollers rotate with the shaft, are attached next to the gears and serve to tension the belt. They are made of wood or plastic and have a layer of soft rubber at the ends. Rubber prevents damage to the track. It is easy to make such rollers yourself by securing the edging with a furniture stapler.

Types of caterpillars

In nature, there are many types of caterpillars that differ in size, color and other features. However, only a few of them have become more widely known.

Among them:

Cabbage caterpillar. The insect's habitat is Eastern Europe, from North Africa to the Japanese islands. Subsequently it came to South America, where it was introduced. This green caterpillar is the larva of the cabbage butterfly. The length of its body is about 3.5 cm. The insect has 8 pairs of limbs. On the surface of the body there are black warts and short hairs of the same color.
Moth caterpillar. The insect has an elongated body. Its peculiarity is its underdeveloped abdominal limbs, so it moves in a loop-like manner, bending the body in an arc. This makes it possible to move the back of the body forward. The color of the moth larva can be green or brown, depending on the variety.
Large harpy larva. It lives in Europe, Central Asia, and northern Africa. The length of adult individuals reaches 6 cm. The color of insects is green with a purple diamond on the back, which has a light outline.
Redtail caterpillar. Distributed in the forest-steppe of Eurasia, as well as Asia. It grows up to 5 cm in length. It can have a pink, brown or gray color. The body of the insect is densely covered with hairs, and at the end of the body there is a tail from which crimson bristles protrude. This species belongs to the category of poisonous. When it comes into contact with human skin, irritation occurs.
Silkworm larva. The caterpillar is found in East Asia, Russia, and China. The length of the caterpillar reaches 6-7 cm. The body of the larva is warty and shaggy. Initially, the villi are blue and brown, but after the fourth molt they become yellow. The silkworm larva feeds exclusively on mulberry leaves.
Corrosive woodworm caterpillar. This species is found in almost all European countries. During wintering, the color changes from yellow-pink to orange. There are black glossy warts on the body. The length of the insect reaches 5-6 cm. Its usual habitat is inside branches and tree trunks. The larvae feed on plant sap.
Swallowtail caterpillar. This species is considered one of the most colorful. Found in Europe, Asia, North America, and Africa. At the initial stage of larval development, the body is black with scarlet warts. As it develops, it turns green and black transverse lines appear, each with 6-8 red-orange spots. In case of danger, the swallowtail caterpillar secretes a liquid with a specific odor. This species feeds on the leaves of carrots, celery, wormwood, parsley, and alder.

Great Harpy Larva

About the manufacturer Composite

The company constantly conducts research on existing models to identify opportunities for their improvement. As part of such research, Composite conducts sea trials of tracks.

She also contacts the population of the northern regions, conducting surveys to find out their opinion on the performance of certain products on the market.

the products are economical, their use can reduce fuel costs by 5-10%;
manufactured caterpillars are lightweight;
they have high elasticity, and this increases their performance characteristics;
the tensile strength of the tracks increases;
the effort required to move away becomes minimal.

Among its products you can find tracks for all popular models of the world's leading manufacturers:

For more information about the Yamaha snowmobile, watch the video:

A wide range of tracks for domestic products is also available, producing tracks for snowmobiles from companies such as:

So, the entire product range of the company can be divided into three main types of tracks:

tracks for imported snowmobiles;
tracks for domestic snowmobiles;

The Texas walk-behind tractor is reliability and European quality. With its attachments, work will become much more efficient.

A large number of people are engaged in sowing potatoes on their plots. Here you will learn about planting potatoes with a walk-behind tractor.

When choosing, you need to take into account not only the specific model of the vehicle, but also other important factors. These include:

terms of Use;
the nature of the routes you will travel on most often;
the purposes for which the snowmobile is used;
driving style.

For greater convenience for customers, a special service operates on the website www.composit.net: the program will help you choose the appropriate models for any snowmobile.

The easiest way to select a product with the desired characteristics is to contact the company’s managers directly, from whom you can get all the necessary advice.

Poisonous caterpillars

Poisonous caterpillars can be distinguished by the bright color of their body. This is a kind of warning signal.

These include the following types:

Coquette caterpillar. Distributed in Mexico. In appearance it resembles a small hamster. The body length of the larva reaches 2-3 cm. The body is densely covered with brown hairs. Upon contact, a person experiences chest pain and shortness of breath.
Saddle caterpillar. The back of this larva is poisonous green in color, with a large brown spot in the center. There are thick horns on the head and tail, and on the body there are stiff hairs, the ends of which contain poison.
Lazy clown. Lives in Uruguay, Mozambique. The size of the caterpillar is 3-4 cm. The main color is black and white with tufts of stiff hairs of a milky green hue. The Lazy Clown's venom affects the nervous system and causes internal bleeding.
Burning rose. The main color of the caterpillar is yellow, with blue and red stripes clearly visible on it. The thick horns of the insect contain spines with poison. Upon contact, they break, which causes a rash on the human skin.

Burning Rose

Transformation of larvae into butterflies

Metamorphosis of a caterpillar.

By definition, caterpillars are larvae that turn into butterflies, absolutely everything. Some species are one- or two-day-old butterflies that live only to lay eggs.

But voracious animals do not always complete their life cycle. They may be eaten or become victims of parasites.

There are insects that look like caterpillars, but they are not. They are called false caterpillars. These are the larvae of some beetles, worms, wasps or ants.

Sawfly false caterpillars.

Keeping caterpillars at home

Absolutely any larva that lives on nearby growing crops can become a pet. To grow it until it becomes a butterfly, it must be placed in a glass jar and provided with food. In this case, you need to know what caterpillars of this species like.

The caterpillars need to be fed regularly, and the bedding should also be changed periodically, removing feces and the remains of shells after molting. A couple of days before pupation, the larva becomes restless and constantly fidgets. Depending on the species, it is necessary to provide favorable conditions for further transformation into a butterfly. If this happens in the ground, then the soil needs to be poured into a jar. In case of transformation in a suspended state, you should put a stick on top of the container, and if necessary, make a cocoon - sprinkle leaves.

The pupation process lasts within half an hour. In the future, all that remains is to wait for a butterfly to emerge from it. In some species this occurs within a few days, while in others it occurs only in the next season.

What is a female swan called?

See what a “female swan” is in other dictionaries: female swan - female swan, female swan ... ... swan - (female swan), swan, swan ...

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Methods of dealing with caterpillars

The appearance of caterpillars on plants does not bode well. These voracious insects can cause serious harm to a crop and even cause its death. In this case, at the first signs of their vital activity, it is necessary to take urgent measures to save the plants.

The following insecticides can be used to control caterpillars:

Bitoxibacillin;
Iskra M;
Inta-vir;
Senpai;
Monsoon;
Lepidocide.

To prevent damage, you can use decoctions based on tobacco leaves, chamomile, onion peels, tomato tops, and yarrow. The smell of these plants can scare off flying individuals, and they will not be able to lay eggs.

Recommendations for selection

In order to choose the right caterpillar, you first need to clearly determine its size.

Important dimensions will be the length, width, as well as the pitch (the pitch is the distance between two adjacent windows) and the lug height level.

So, the length, width, pitch must be similar to the “old” tracks.

There are, of course, a large number of different kinds of descriptions of how tracks for a snowmobile can be converted, but at the moment we are not considering this option.

The length, width and pitch of the track can be easily measured.

But the lug should be chosen based on the operating conditions of the snowmobile, as well as your wishes.

An important characteristic of any snowmobile tracks is their lug height. For each snowmobile it is strictly individual

If the snowmobile is low-powered (its power is less than 50 hp), then it is not recommended to install a track with a lug higher than 40 mm, due to the possible excessive load on the engine. It may well simply not “pull out”.

For a snowmobile under 69 horsepower, the optimal height should be 29.5 mm.

If you are the happy owner of a powerful snowmobile, then your choice should not be limited only by engine parameters, however, it may be limited by suspension parameters, namely, the size of the suspension tunnel.

This parameter must be measured before purchasing the tracks, otherwise you will have to make a number of alterations in the suspension design itself.

When choosing a track for a snowmobile, you should be guided by the rule: the greater the height of the lug, the greater the snowmobile's cross-country ability in snow, especially deep snow.

However, it is important not to overdo it here.

Now you need to figure out what kind of snow requires the optimal lug height.

When planning to drive on wet and hard snow, ice or loose snow, the toe height should be as low as possible.

The lug for such conditions should be as “even” as possible.

Then the top layer of crust will not break off or jerk, and therefore the snowmobile will easily “run” even through the deepest snow.

The same recommendation applies to compacted snow, but since we have almost no snowmobile trails in the Russian Federation, there is no need to dwell on this point.

Don't know which snowmobile to choose for your child? Then read our article, in which you will find a description of the most popular models of this type of equipment.

To teach a child to ride this type of motorcycle, it is not at all necessary to purchase expensive vehicles.

If you plan to ride on loose or deep snow, then the lug should be chosen higher: from 32.5 to 39.5 mm. (if the snowmobile allows this height to be set).

In this case, attention should be paid to the shape of the lug. To “write out” a turn, to sharply enter a turn, a reinforced lug edge is needed

At the same time, a negative lug angle can add stability. The more active the type of riding you prefer, the more aggressive profiles you need to choose.

A lug with different height elements is suitable for extreme types of driving. In this case, hitch blocks of different heights will work on different types of load, which will allow you not to lose control in difficult conditions.

Snowmobile track with a toe greater than 49.5 mm. is already mountainous. Thus, the profiles of these tracks are designed for sharp ascent and descent.

It is not recommended to use it under normal conditions, since the snowmobile's cross-country ability in deep snow will significantly deteriorate (the snowmobile will bury).

The pattern of such caterpillars must necessarily resemble many blades, since the main task is to “cut into” and push off from the snow on sloping areas.

That's all the recommendations. It's up to you to choose.

Basic elements of a motorized dog

The most important piece of equipment is the engine. Typically, a single-cylinder carburetor gasoline engine is used to create motorized dogs.

An equally important part is the rubber-metal track - the propulsion unit with suspension. With the help of the caterpillar you can drive on snow, ice, soft ground in warm weather

It is worth taking a closer look at all the components of a motorized dog.

Car engine

The motor from the Sh-58 moped, designed for manual gearbox shifting, is considered popular. Scooter engines can also be used. The main thing is that the product has good traction characteristics, a power of at least 6 hp. With. This is enough to transport one person and a load of 30-50 kg on a motorized dog. For a trip of two people and a load of 150-200 kg, it is better to choose an engine with a power of more than 9 liters. With. A chain tensioner is often used as an engine tuning element.

Motorized dog support frame

The frame must be of excellent quality, because on the road it experiences high loads, especially when driving off-road. This design is made entirely with your own hands, welded from rectangular metal pipes. Usually a pipe thickness of 3 millimeters is enough; thinner metal is not suitable, it quickly deforms.

DSA suspension

This suspension is characterized as the first long-travel system that was used in the construction of snowmobiles. To be more precise, it was installed on the F2000 and S2000 chassis. The shock absorbers and springs are located between the levers (arranged in parallel) and the chassis. The inclination of the springs and shock absorbers towards the central part of the snowmobile is maintained. Due to this, the travel of the suspension itself is greater than that of the shock absorber. The shock-absorbing system consists of a snow frame and a trailing arm to which two transverse arms are connected. Levers located transversely must have the same length. There are snowmobile models on which the length of the levers can be adjusted. This adjustment is relevant when it is necessary to overcome an icy section of the route. There is no point in adjusting the length of the levers when moving in deep snow. The disadvantage of this suspension is the lack of controllability of the snowmobile due to the horizontal movement of the skis.

Additional accessories

The category of additional elements includes shock absorbers, sleds and trailer.

Thanks to shock absorbers, riding a snowmobile will be more comfortable. To achieve the correct design, you can use levers designed for motorcycles. They can be new or used, but this point must be decided in advance.

Sleighs are a great way to transport luggage or passengers. If you decide to use an old sled, make sure it is strong and safe enough.

If you initially have a single-axle, two-wheeled walk-behind tractor, a compact trailer will help turn it into a two-axle, four-wheeled snowmobile. It must be tightly welded to the vehicle frame.

What else should you consider before purchasing a kit?

Manufacturers offer a huge variety of such accessories for ATVs. When choosing a model, consider the following points:

Season. There are tracks that are designed specifically for use in winter (marked with the words “winter” or “snow”). There are also tracks on which you can operate an all-terrain vehicle throughout the year; they have o ().
Route. Think about what roads you plan to travel on. If you want to increase your grip on the snow surface, take a closer look at models that are equipped with studs. At the same time, for loose snow, a tape with high hooks is better suited. A more universal option is with short hooks, which is designed for use on any type of coating.

The specialists of the motorboat center will help you choose the models that suit your goals and expectations.

To get detailed advice on availability, prices and characteristics, just call.