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predator defences

Flagellation…

[featured image] The intriguing little animal below is the first instar larva of the puss moth (Cerura vinula). The egg that it has very recently emerged from is to the right. These caterpillars and their close relatives have a couple of brilliant adaptations to ward off many, many potential predators. …

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[featured image] With their soft bodies and lack of wings, insect larvae are the number one food item for countless other animals. The only thing that keeps the predatory hordes at bay is the amazing defensive adaptations these immature insects have evolved.  For example, the toxin-laden tissues of various plants …