
I found this caterpillar in my garden. Based on its bright colors, I decided not to pick it up. Why would it be so brightly colored?
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To help it hide in flowers.
No. Its pattern of colors would not blend in with a flower. -
To warn away predators.
Yes! Many brightly colored animals are toxic or dangerous. They use their bright colors to warn potential predators that they taste bad, sting, or have some other characteristic that a predator would want to avoid.This is the caterpillar of a Hooded Owlet Moth. They eat the wild asters in our area, which gives them a very bitter taste that birds don't like.
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To attract a mate.
No. Caterpillars do not mate. They must go through metamorphosis into a butterfly or moth before they can mate. -
To help it find food.
No. Most caterpillars eat plants, and bright colors would not help with that..
Click to see which state standards this question tests, and which of my videos, experiments, and other resources support that topic.
Florida
SC.5.L.17.1 Compare and contrast adaptations displayed by animals and plants that enable them to survive in different environments such as life cycles variations, animal behaviors and physical characteristics.
Selective Smelling | video, checked |
Seed Search | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Flowers | video, ClosedCaptions |
Onion Crystals | video |
A Walk in the Park | video, checked |
Nature Watching | video, checked |
Calling a Woodpecker | video, checked |
Review Plants-1 | practice |
Review Adaptation-2 | practice |
Review Adaptation-3 | practice |
Review Adaptation-4 | practice |
Review Adaptation-5 | practice |
Review Adaptation-6 | practice |
Utah
UT.6.V.1.b Compare characteristics common in observed organisms (e.g., color, movement, appendages, shape) and infer their function (e.g., green color found in organisms that are producers, appendages help movement).
Onion Crystals | video |
A Walk in the Park | video, checked |
Selective Smelling | video, checked |
Thoughts on an Exoskeleton | text page, free |
Review Adaptation-3 | practice |
Review Adaptation-4 | practice |
Review Plants-5 | practice |
Review Plants-6 | practice |
Review Adaptation-5 | practice |
Review Plants-7 | practice |
Review Adaptation-6 | practice |
NGSS
3-LS4-2 Use evidence to construct an explanation for how the variations in characteristics among individuals of the same species may provide advantages in surviving, finding mates, and reproducing.
Flowers | video, ClosedCaptions |
Who Evolved on First? | text page, free, checked |
Review Adaptation-4 | practice |
Review Adaptation-5 | practice |
Review Adaptation-6 | practice |
Review Adaptation-1 | practice |
Review Adaptation-3 | practice |
MS-LS1-4 Use argument based on empirical evidence and scientific reasoning to support an explanation for how characteristic animal behaviors and specialized plant structures affect the probability of successful reproduction of animals and plants respectively.
Calling a Woodpecker | video, checked |
Selective Smelling | video, checked |
Pumpkin Guts | video, free, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Seed Search | video, ClosedCaptions, checked |
Orange Slices | video, ClosedCaptions |
Bacteria and Antibiotics | video, ClosedCaptions |
Flowers | video, ClosedCaptions |
Onion Crystals | video |
A Walk in the Park | video, checked |
Nature Watching | video, checked |
Thoughts on an Exoskeleton | text page, free |
How Does a Butterfly Fly? | text page, free |
Review Adaptation-3 | practice |
Review Plants-2 | practice |
Review Plants-4 | practice |
Review Adaptation-4 | practice |
Review Adaptation-5 | practice |
Review Adaptation-6 | practice |
Review Plants-8 | practice |