Every caterpillar has three pairs of true legs on the fore part of its body, corresponding to the six found in the butterfly or moth. These are terminated by a sharp claw.
There are also, in most cases, four pairs of prolegs along the middle of the body and one pair at the rear. These ten prolegs disappear when the cater-
The Larva of Milkweed Butterfly.
(The three pairs of legs at the left are true legs. The middle four pairs and the pair at the right end are prolegs or prop-legs.)
pillar transforms to the perfect insect, hence are called false legs. The ends of these false legs are not terminated by a sharp claw, but in many species of caterpillars by a very curious arrangement which resembles wonderful rows of small claws or a pretty brushlike formation. Many naturalists who use a microscope are fond of studying these false legs. The accompanying illustration was drawn from a specimen circulated in a mailing-box of the The Postal Microscopical Club. This has been studied by many scientists.The Foot of a Caterpillar Showing the Queer Bows of Hooks. (Drawn under the microscope from a specimen circulated in a box of the American Postal Microscopical Club.)
The Foot of a Caterpillar Showing
The Foot of a Caterpillar Showing