Meat-Eating Caterpillar; It hunts snails and ties them down

ScienceNews ^ | 7/23/05 | S. Milius

[furball4paws]

A snail eating caterpillar is described. It hunts down snails, ties them down with silk and devours them.

"Such oddball lifestyles tend to develop in isolated ecosystems where there's a limited variety of creatures, as in Hawaii. "There's more room for evolutionary experimentation," says Gillespie. For example, Hawaiian insects evolved without ants as predators or competitors for food."

[dighton]

Please add me to the "Meat Eating Caterpillar" ping list.

No need, if you're already on the Oddball Lifestyles list.

;-)

[furball4paws]

I never understood why Mothra was so dangerous. It just seemed like the Japanese couldn't think of a new monster, but a giant moth?

[furball4paws]

Give me your address and I'll send you a gallon of 'em.

[PatrickHenry]

Please add me to the Meat Eating Caterpillar" ping list.

Sorry. Due to software limitations, the list is now at the maximum allowed by FreeRepublic. I suggest you ask furball4paws to get on his Venus Flytrap list, which may still have a few open slots.

[Ichneumon]

It just seemed like the Japanese couldn't think of a new monster, but a giant moth?

Yeah, but the singing twins were hot.

[furball4paws]

I think Venus' Fly Trap has been banned.

[furball4paws]

OH, yeh. I forgot about them. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all.

[NonValueAdded]

Once more evolution rears its ugly head in the form of oddball feeding habits.

Why does your comment seem to scream for an image of Michael Moore? (Please don't post one!)

[gitmo]

Same thing happened to me when I tried to get on the Stune My Beeber ping list. I guess I'm too slow on the signups.

[Thinkin' Gal]

A possible fifth species was collected high in rainforests on the island of Kauai ...

Could they be a little more specific?

[Dallas59]

Oh....bugs. I thought it was another Rachel Corrie post.

[Hugin]

I never understood why Mothra was so dangerous. It just seemed like the Japanese couldn't think of a new monster, but a giant moth?

Yeah, but watch out if you're wearing a wool suit.

[furball4paws]

In that case it wouldn't be evolution's "ugly head".

[Thinkin' Gal]

Rubinoff says that he's never seen attacks on a moving snail. Instead, a caterpillar sidles up to a sitting snail, pokes around gently as if confirming its target, and then starts an elaborate tie-down that takes about an hour.

[skinkinthegrass]

Well, It is interesting. Judgement call. :D

[Hot Tabasco]

I shot this pic in Honduras a couple years ago. The moth was at least 6 inches across...... =

[furball4paws]

I tell ya'. On Sunday evenings, even snails and caterpillars can pull 'em in.

[PatrickHenry]

On Sunday evenings, even snails and caterpillars can pull 'em in.

Slime has its attractions ...

[PatrickHenry]

[skinkinthegrass]

I suggest you ask furball4paws to get on his Venus Flytrap list

Oh! Really. please add me. Thanks. :D