| Case
Moths are the hermit crabs of the insect world. The
caterpillars protect themselves by spinning a silk bag (most
caterpillars can make silk) and attaching small twigs to the
outside for camouflage. And they never leave the bag.
They move around and feed by pushing their head and legs just
beyond an opening at the top of the bag and retract into the bag
when danger threatens. This part of the life cycle may last
for many months and sometimes years.
When the adults finally emerge from
the case they don't look very much like 'normal' moths. The
males have small, narrow, shiny and distinctly un-moth-like
wings and the females don't have wings at all.
|
