Bone Collector Caterpillar Wears the Body Parts of the Dead

Context: A new species of carnivorous caterpillar, named the “bone collector“, has been discovered on the Hawaiian island.

About Bone Collector Caterpillar

• Bone Collector Caterpillar is a carnivorous caterpillar that feeds on trapped insects in spider webs.
• It is not just a scavenger but an active predator, consuming insects already caught by spiders.

Protective Silk Case

• It constructs a silk case from insect parts, such as ant heads and fly wings.
• The decorated case serves as camouflage, helping it blend in with its environment and avoid detection by spiders.

• Rarity: Predatory caterpillars are extremely rare, and the bone collector is a unique example of such behaviour.
  • Researchers have found only 62 of these caterpillars during 20 years of observations.
• Cannibalistic Behaviour: Bone collector caterpillars have also been observed to eat each other.

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