I thought I’d shift gears a bit and focus on some animals that make their appearance as summer temperatures rise. Smaller animals, but not lacking in beauty.

Butterflies and moths have a larval stage that we refer to as caterpillars. More specifically, moths and butterflies use complete metamorphosis. Complete metamorphosis involves four distinct stages: the egg stage, larva stage, pupa stage and adult stage.

Caterpillars are the very active stage and can be found in almost all types of vegetation. However, most butterflies and moths lay their eggs in/on the particular plants necessary (host specific) for the caterpillar’s growth and success.

As a general rule of thumb, the brightest colored caterpillars are most likely either: (A) poisonous to a predator when eaten, (B) taste quite harsh or bitter, (C) or they have spines, spikes or hairs than could be irritating if touched and/or swallowed.

Although not caterpillars, most know that lady bird beetles (lady bugs) secrete a mild poisonous substance if touched or when an animal tries to eat them. Those beetles are using warning coloration and are not trying to blend in. Many caterpillars are adapted to advertise what is wrong with them so birds, for example, learn what to eat or, better yet, what to avoid.

There are many more caterpillars that rely on their camouflage to survive. The cabbage butterfly larva is a good example. If you garden, they are the small green caterpillars that blend in with the cabbage leaves or show up in your harvested broccoli floret.

The gypsy moth caterpillars are rather hairy and can cause a mild skin irritation to some individuals. The saddleback caterpillar has spiny projections on its body and will most likely cause a noticeable skin irritation if you brush against them.

Some of the very “hairiest” caterpillars, like the banded woolly bears, are so hairy that many birds would not be even able to swallow them. It’s one of the reasons they seem so unafraid as they move about in late summer and early autumn.

Today I’ll try to present some of the more common caterpillars of this region. In a later column, I’ll follow up with the adult stage of their lives, some of the butterflies that you commonly see as well.

Test Your Outdoor Knowledge: Which of the following local nesters are the latest ones to start their nests? A. barn swallow, B. American goldfinch, C. red-tailed hawk, D. bald eagle, E. Bluebird.

Last Week’s Trivia Answer: The spotted lanternfly’s favorite host tree is the tree of heaven.

Contact Barry Reed at breed71@gmail.com.